Q. I see on the internet that there are Memorial Day scams that target military, families, and supporters; could you please advise?
A. Memorial Day is a time to honor those who serve and remember those who have died in war. But sadly, it has also become a key opportunity for scammers to target those who are serving or have served their nation, especially elderly veterans. BBB is urging consumers and donors to be on the lookout for deals that seem too good to be true, and for disreputable charities.
“The unique lifestyle of our service members makes them prime targets for scammers,” notes Brenda Linnington, director of the BBB Military Line. “It’s imperative that we educate our service members and ensure that the support we give to them equals the effort they make every day on behalf of us.”
Linnington said scams can include those that target service personnel and their families directly, but also those that appear to be helping military members via charities.
Donors need to watch out for questionable charities that raise funds on behalf of military organizations. When you make a donation, always check www.give.org to see that the group meets BBB charity standards, especially around Memorial Day. Too many charities fail to meet BBB standards of charitable giving. Solicitors telephone and say the charity supports veterans, service members or their families. When in fact, little of the money donated will serve that purpose.