ROANOKE, Va. (WFXR) — As Memorial Day approaches, the Better Business Bureau (BBB) Serving Western Virginia warns about fake charities that often scam those serving or who have served their nation.
In 2020, active-duty service members lost more than $190,000 to scammers across the United States, according to reports generated by BBB Scam Tracker. Veterans across the nation were impacted to an even greater degree, with over $270,000 lost to fraudulent business practices. Additionally, 49% of scam victims were over the age of 55.
Consumers should also be aware of misleading military charities that often adopt similar names and outreach practices as trusted nonprofits such as email, direct mail, phone calls, and texts. These military organizations use emotionally appealing words to fill their fundraising pitches like “warriors,” “heroes,” and “disabled.”
In 2019, the FTC shut down American Veterans Foundation, which raised nearly $6.5 million from donors. The foundation said the donations provided care packages and other aid for deployed troops and homeless veterans. Instead, the foundation used 92% of the money it raised for telemarketing and administrative costs.
“When you donate to a…
