Veteran Job Scams on the Rise
Employment scams rank among the most damaging financial threats facing military communities, according to the FTC and the Better Business Bureau. Federal agencies are warning military members and their families transitioning into civilian life to watch for unsolicited contacts from people allegedly offering civilian employment.
Veteran Job Scams on the Rise
Military-connected consumers suffered more than half a billion in fraud losses in recent years, many due to imposter scams, identity theft, and job scams.
The Federal Trade Commission Consumer Sentinel Network reports military consumers, including active-duty service members, veterans, and military spouses, lost $26.4 million to business- and job-opportunity scams in 2023 alone. Overall employment scam losses across all consumers jumped from $90 million in 2020 to $501 million by 2024.
Employment fraud is one area where veterans and active personnel may face greater danger than non-military consumers. The lure of high-paying remote work appeals to spouses and veterans alike. Unfortunately, advances in AI and other tech make it harder than ever to avoid scam attempts. The trick is to recognize one when you see it.
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Where Job Scams Live
The Department of Veterans Affairs, partnering with consumer protection agencies, has warned that hiring fraud evolves alongside workplace technology and that today, you’ll find fake job offers everywhere.
They appear on legitimate job boards, fake job boards, and even through social media contacts asking for your money, Social Security numbers, military discharge records, and banking credentials.
Types of Veteran Employment Scams
Unsolicited communications represent the biggest initial problem. Scammers reach out via text or email, claiming they found your resume online. In many cases, these operators extend formal job offers without interviewing the applicant or reviewing an application. Remember, real job offers typically require some screening process before offering employment to a candidate. Did you get hired “instantly”? Beware.
Unrealistic compensation is another warning sign. Beware of offers with overly high hourly pay, overly flexible part-time hours, and minimal experience requirements. These often signal fraud.
Real job notices include specific duties and other job information. Fraudulent listings use vague job titles, generic duties, and poorly written copy, often full of grammatical mistakes. Bad actors often operate behind free email domains and lack verifiable public websites. If you cannot verify, don’t respond.
Check Scams
Counterfeit check scams are also a problem. How do they work? An operator mails or electronically transmits an official-looking corporate check, instructing the worker to deposit the draft and send the remaining funds to a third party.
Typically, this is supposed to be for home office equipment. Weeks later, the check bounces, the bank revokes the credit, and the applicant is left liable for the full amount transferred to the criminal.
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Don’t Give in to Pressure
High-pressure tactics routinely accompany these offers. Don’t give in to pressure to act now or “before it’s too late.” You may be asked to sign advance contracts or submit banking information. Some ask you to download software. Don’t do this.
The Department of Veterans Affairs warns that this software frequently contains malware designed to monitor keystrokes and record your private data. Genuine corporate recruiters use established communication platforms and allow enough time to review.
Legitimate employers know the costs of interviews and background screening, and do not charge applicants for a job interview or consideration for a position. Job scams reverse this, asking veterans and military spouses to pay out of pocket for initial supplies or certifications, or access. You should not pay to work. Don’t agree to these arrangements.
To process payments from their victims, job scammers typically require oddly specific payment channels, including gift cards, cryptocurrency, peer-to-peer payment apps, or wire transfer services such as Western Union. Don’t agree to any of these things. Never wire money to a prospective employer. Once sent, funds are nearly impossible to trace or recover.
Finding Legitimate Job Offers
Applicants should base their career research on verified government databases and civilian portals. Portals such as USAJobs, Fedshirevets.gov, and the Department of Labor CareerOneStop.org provide vetted job openings. You can find civilian staffing and employment agencies on Career Recon.
For private-sector roles, applicants must verify recruiter credentials by calling the main phone number listed on company websites rather than using telephone numbers sent to you unsolicited in recruiting messages.
Searching the name of the business or individual alongside words such as complaint, scam, or review may reveal complaints from previous scam victims. Do not click embedded links or open email attachments sent from unknown senders, as spoofed websites often look like legitimate ones.
Veterans and military households experiencing any form of employment fraud or suspect compromise of their personal data should report the incident through the VSAFE Fraud Hotline at 833-38V-SAFE (833-388-7233).
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About the author
Editor-in-Chief Joe Wallace is a 13-year veteran of the United States Air Force and a former reporter/editor for Air Force Television News and the Pentagon Channel. His freelance work includes contract work for Motorola, VALoans.com, and Credit Karma. He is co-founder of Dim Art House in Springfield, Illinois, and spends his non-writing time as an abstract painter, independent publisher, and occasional filmmaker.
