Better Business Bureau Warns Families: Don't Be Scammed

Since January 1, the Attleboro Police Department has responded to 37 reports of fraud. In 2010, the department received 156 reports of fraudulent incidents. While many of the incidents targeted senior citizens, the Memorial Day holiday gives scammers a specific group on which to prey – military families. 

With Memorial Day quickly approaching,  the Better Business Bureau of Boston wants residents to be on high alert for scammers who will use the military holiday to scam servicemen, women and their families. 

To help Attleboro and all Massachusetts families to decipher between a legitimate organization helping the military and one trying committ fraud, the Better Business Bureau has created the BBB Military Line, which gives callers free resources and access to scam alerts for all branches of the military. 

Examples of scams include:

• High-priced military loans - Advertisements for loans that promise a guarantee, instant approval or no credit check will often come with hidden fees and extremely high interest rates. Legitimate lenders do not guarantee a loan before someone applies, and any loan that requires an upfront fee is a scam.
• Veterans' benefits buyout plans - This buyout plan will offer a cash payment in exchange for a disabled veteran’s future benefits or pension payments. The cash amount is only about 30 to 40 percent of what the veteran is entitled to. The buyout plans can be structured in several different ways, so the BBB suggests people do research before signing anything over.
• Fake rental properties - Stolen photos of legitimate rental properties are used in advertisements that promise military discounts and other incentives. Service members will have to pay a fee via wire transfer for security payments or a key to the property – in the end they will receive nothing.
• Phony jury duty summons - A caller clams to work for the local court system and states that the service member did not show up for jury duty and now has a warrant out for their arrest. When the victim says they never got a summons, the caller will ask for a credit card number or Social Security number to clear up the matter.
• Misleading car sales – Websites posting classified ads will offer false discounts for military personnel or claim to be from soldiers who need to sell their vehicle fast since they have been deployed. Upfront fees will be required via wire transfer, or the vehicle will have problems after purchase.
• Expensive life insurance policies – Members of the military are often the targets of high pressured sales pitches that offer unnecessary, expensive life insurance policies. Solicitors will make false statements regarding the benefits that these policies offer.

Troops that are actively deployed can place an "Active Duty" alert on their credit report. By placing the alert, troops minimize the risk of identity theft because creditors and businesses cannot issue or grant credit until verifying identity, according to the Better Business Bureau.