and north dakota military line® mission: resources · 2014. 11. 21. · direct marketing...
TRANSCRIPT
bbb.org
Better Business BureauMilitary Line®Better Business Bureau of Minnesota and North Dakota
800-646-6222
To request materials or to have someone from BBB speak to your group about marketplace issues affecting servicemembers, veterans and their families, please contact:
Marketplace Ethics
BBB Institute for
Minnesota and North Dakota
Resources For Military
National 2-1-1 info & Referral Service 211.org
First Call For Help - Minnesota800-543-7709
Firstlink - North Dakota877-865-1685
To stop junk mail/telemarketing
Do Not Call Registry 866-290-4236 or 888-382-1222 or
donotcall.gov
Direct Marketing Association 212-768-7277
dmachoice.org
Credit Card Offers888-567-8688
MN Attorney General - Consumer Protection651-296-3353 or 800-296-3787
ag.state.mn.us
ND Attorney General - Consumer Protection701-328-6888 or 800-472-2600
ag.state.nd.us
Beyond the Yellow Ribbon beyondtheyellowribbon.org
Consumer Financial Protection Bureau 855-411-2372
consumerfinance.gov
County Veteran Service Officers nacvso.gov
Federal Trade Commission 877-382-43
consumer.ftc.gov
Military One Source 800-342-9647
militaryonesource.mil
Veteran C.O.R.E - LSS 888-881-8261
minnesotaveteran.org
Veterans Crisis Line800-273-8255
veteranscrisisline.net
This brochure produced in partnership with
Military Line® Mission:To reach out to military servicemembers,
veterans, their families and caregivers with education, resources and training on
marketplace fraud and scams.
TopScamsTargeting Military, Veterans andFamilies
braininjurymn.org
Top
Scams Targeting MilitaryADVANCE FEE LOANS Internet loan ads ask you to pay fees before receiving the loan.
Result: No loan, loss of money paid and possible ID theft.
CHARITY SCAMScammers collect donations for personal gain and not for the causes they advertise. They use military and veteran related terms to appear connected to government agencies and legal charities.
Result: Lost money to donor and legitimate charities.
EMPLOYMENT SCAMSPayment for required training before hiring. Fake checks sent to job seeker with request to wire money back for some job-related expenses. Job applications asking for bank account numbers, before hiring.
Result: ID theft, lost money, no job, wasted time.
PAYDAY LOANSSmall, short-term unsecured loans that are to be repaid by your regular paycheck. Interest rates are very high—up to 500%.
Result: Nonpayment of loans on time cause loans and interest rates to be multiplied and debt increased.
FOR-PROFIT SCHOOLSSome non-accredited schools enroll students to collect GI Bill, government grants and student loan money. The courses and degrees do not meet many career fields’ requirements and are not transferrable to accredited schools.
Result: Lost money, large student loans due, or useless courses or degrees.
RETIREMENT & PENSION SCAMSDishonest advisors claim to offer free help with paperwork for pensions for veterans over 65 years old. The scheme may involve lawyers, insurance agents or financial planners.
Result: Lost medical benefits or financial benefits due to incomplete advice.
VA BENEFITS
Some organizations charge a fee to assist veterans or family members to apply for VA benefits. This is not illegal, but the same service is free through government or veteran organizations.
Result: Lost money and possibly less VA benefits than rightfully earned.
Marketplace
Do’s & Do Not’s For MilitaryDO:
1. Keep careful records and shred anything that you don’t need.
2. Trust your instincts. If it sounds too good to be true, it probably is.
3. Ask resources for help (BBB, etc.)
4. Use established employment sites and verify all postings by contacting companies directly.
5. Monitor your credit reports every year through annualcreditreport.com.
DO NOT:
1. Don’t give out personal information to anyone who contacts you over the phone, email or at your door (including SSN, driver’s license, credit card numbers, pin numbers, bank account info).
2. Don’t wire money to anyone you don’t know.
3. Don’t click on emails, links or download pictures or documents from anyone you don’t know.
4. Don’t feel pressure to “act now.” You always have time to purchase a legitimate product or service.