In observance of National Military Consumer Month, Kentucky Attorney General Daniel Cameron has provided tips to help service members and veterans avoid scams.
“Our service members, veterans, and their families sacrifice a great deal to protect and serve our country, and we want to make sure they have the information necessary to avoid harmful scams,” Cameron said in a press release.
Identity Theft
One of the three main types of scams is identity theft, where someone attempts to gather your information to impersonate you and get access to your personal accounts. Here are steps to avoid identity theft, according to a Cameron’s office:
- Beware of phone calls, texts, QR codes, or phishing emails that impersonate a business or government agency and ask for your personal information.
- Consider placing a free “Fraud Alert” on your credit report by contacting any of the three major credit reporting agencies: Experian, Transunion, or Equifax.
- Consider making social media accounts private, and limit friends to known individuals to minimize the ability of scammers to steal your images and learn personal details about your life.
Home and Rental Scams
Home and rental scams are when scammers give out misinformation about a potential home. Scammers tend to change the property listings of a legitimate real estate agency and post it on a fake social media account. Here are steps on how to avoid home and rental scams:
- Visit the property before paying a security deposit or signing a lease. If a rental isn’t available for an in-person walkthrough, don’t rent the property.
- Watch out for odd payment requests. Avoid dealing with companies or individuals who require payment through wired funds, gift cards, online payment platforms.
- Work with reputable companies. Visit the Better Business Bureau’s website to review information regarding a company’s reputation.
Impersonation Scams
A scammer might impersonate a business by spoofing a legitimate email while asking for your personal information. Here are steps to avoid impersonation scams:
- Avoid sharing personal information like account passwords or banking information in an email or with an unsolicited caller.
- Verify the identity of the person you are communicating with.
Service members and veterans can report scams by visiting the attorney general’s website. Cameron’s office also offers additional information about specific scams.
Aly Adler is a 2022 graduate of Christian County High School and will attend Hopkinsville Community College. She is considering a career in journalism.
