Fighting Fraud
By Better Business Bureau Serving Greater Cleveland
This Veterans Day, Better Business Bureau® (BBB®) Serving Greater Cleveland proudly joins communities across the nation in honoring the brave men and women who have served in the United States Armed Forces. As part of BBB’s ongoing commitment to integrity, trust, and community support, the organization celebrates the continued success of BBB’s Military and Veteran Initiative, a program dedicated to empowering military-connected consumers through education and outreach from the BBB Institute for Marketplace TrustSM.
In a 2024 study conducted by the BBB Institute, military consumers reported higher median financial losses ($165) than non-military consumers ($126). Additionally, active-duty service members submitted a higher percentage of reports with a dollar loss. But active-duty and veterans are not the only individuals affected. Military spouses have also reported being targeted by various scams.
Riskiest scams for veterans:
- Investment/cryptocurrency.
- Employment.
Riskiest scams for military spouses:
- Employment.
- Online purchase.
Tips to avoid getting scammed:
- Never send money to someone you have not met face-to-face. Beware of online friends who ask for money or offer investment opportunities, like cryptocurrency.
- Don’t click on links or open attachments in unsolicited emails or text messages. If the person claims to be somebody you know or a well-known organization, contact them directly or go directly to your account to confirm the details.
- Avoid making quick purchases while browsing social media. Research the website before buying any products or services.
- Use secure, traceable transactions when making payments for goods, services, taxes, and debts. Prepaid/gift cards, for example, cannot be traced.
- Don’t be pressured to act immediately. Take your time to research.
For decades, BBB has supported service members and their families. From helping veterans navigate entrepreneurship to protecting military families from scams, BBB’s Military and Veteran Initiative reinforces our mission to advance marketplace trust for all.
For more tips and resources, visit BBB’s Military & Veteran Initiative. To find businesses in your area, go to BBB.org/Search. Have additional questions? Reach out to your BBB at 216.241.7678 or [email protected]. Have a scam to report? Report it to BBB.org/ScamTracker.
