From the Better Business Bureau

Beware of Memorial Day scams

[May 24, 2013]  PEORIA -- 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. As Memorial Day approaches, the Better Business Bureau urges consumers and donors to be aware of scammers that feed off the military.

BBB Military Line, the military arm of the Better Business Bureau, provides free resources, such as financial literacy information, access to BBB services and scam alerts, and complaint and dispute resolution for all branches of the U.S. military.

BBB warns of the following scams that are directed at service members:

• High priced military loans -- Advertisements for loans that promise a guarantee, instant approval or no credit check will often come with hidden fees and extremely high interest rates. Remember that legitimate lenders will never guarantee a loan before you apply, and loans that require an upfront fee are likely a scam.

• Veterans' benefits buyout plans -- Buyout plans will offer a cash payment in exchange for a disabled veteran's future benefits or pension payments. The cash amount is only about 30-40 percent of what the veteran is entitled to. These buyout plans can be structured in several different ways, so research thoroughly before signing anything over.

• Fake rental properties -- Stolen photos of legitimate rental properties are used in advertisements that promise military discounts and other incentives. Service members will have to pay a fee via wire transfer for security payments or a key to the property -- and in the end they will receive nothing.

• Phony jury duty summons -- A caller clams to work for the local court system and states that the service member did not show up for jury duty and there is now a warrant out for their arrest. When the victim says they never got a summons, the caller will ask for a credit card number or Social Security number to clear up the matter.

• Misleading car sales -- Websites posting classified ads will offer false discounts for military personnel or claim to be from soldiers who need to sell their vehicle fast since they have been deployed. Upfront fees will be required via wire transfer, or the vehicle will have problems after purchase.

• Expensive life insurance policies -- Members of the military are often the targets of high-pressured sales pitches that offer unnecessary, expensive life insurance policies. Solicitors may make false statements regarding the benefits that these policies offer.

BBB recommends the following tips to avoid scams:

• Do your research. Get as much information as you can about a business or charity before you pay. Check out a business's BBB Business Review at www.bbb.org or a charity's Charity Report at www.give.org.

• Don't wire transfer money to anyone you don't know. Money sent via wire transfer is practically impossible to track. Pay by credit card whenever possible, since you can dispute charges easily.

• Protect your computer. Don't click on links within unsolicited emails. Don't enter personal information on unfamiliar websites. Make sure that you have updated anti-virus software installed and use a firewall at all times.

• Put an active-duty alert on your credit reports when deployed. Doing so will minimize the risk of identity theft, because creditors and businesses cannot issue or grant credit until verifying identity.

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For 100 years, the Better Business Bureau has been helping consumers find businesses, brands and charities they can trust. In 2012, consumers turned to BBB more than 100 million times for reviews on more than 4 million companies and reports on 11,000 charities, all available for free at www.bbb.org. The Council of Better Business Bureaus is the umbrella organization for 114 local, independent BBBs across the United States and Canada, as well as home to its national programs on dispute resolution and industry self-regulation.

[Text from file received from the Better Business Bureau of Central Illinois]