Attorney General Kris Mayes has released a series of public service announcements (PSAs) in collaboration with Arizona Vietnam War veterans to address the issue of scams targeting veterans and their families. The PSAs, launched on Veterans Day, feature Tom McCannat, David Lucier, and Frank Moreno sharing advice on how former service members can protect themselves from fraud.
“This Veterans Day, I am proud to be working with Arizona veterans to help protect former service members from fraud and scammers,” said Attorney General Mayes. “Many people don’t realize that veterans are especially vulnerable to becoming victims of scams. I’m glad my office can help get the word out to protect Arizona’s many veterans from losing their hard-earned benefits or life savings.”
The campaign highlights that nearly 90 percent of servicemembers and veterans have been targeted by military-related scams within the past year, according to AARP data. Over the last five years, Federal Trade Commission (FTC) figures show that scammers have stolen $1.4 billion from veterans. In 2024 alone, losses among active-duty personnel, National Guard members, veterans, and their families increased by nearly 25 percent compared to the previous year, totaling $584 million.
Veterans are also reported to lose more money per scam than civilians. FTC data indicates that the median loss for veteran victims is $700 per person—higher than the $497 median across all FTC complaints. Military-affiliated individuals are also more likely than civilians to receive robocalls or suspicious messages each week.
The PSAs outline several common schemes aimed at veterans: fraudulent charities using names similar to legitimate organizations; claim sharks charging illegal fees for VA benefit assistance; impersonators requesting personal information under false pretenses; offers of lump-sum payments for benefits worth much more; and attempts to charge for free VA services such as updating military records.
Attorney General Mayes provides practical tips in the videos:
Hang up or delete messages from unknown numbers;
Be wary even if caller ID appears familiar due to number spoofing;
Apply directly through official VA channels for benefits;
Do not pay for copies of military records since they are available free through the VA;
Use only VA-accredited representatives when seeking assistance.
“Arizona’s veterans protected us,” said Attorney General Mayes. “Now, we need to work together to protect them.”
Veterans who believe they have been victims of consumer fraud can file a complaint online at www.azag.gov/consumer or request a form by calling regional Attorney General offices. Scams should also be reported to both the FTC and Better Business Bureau’s Scam Tracker.
