Scam category
Military scams
Military scams exploit the trust and respect people have for service members. Romance scammers steal photos of real soldiers and build emotional relationships online, eventually asking for money to cover leave travel, satellite phone bills, or early discharge fees. Separately, scammers target veterans with fake VA benefit offers, pension buyout schemes, and predatory lending disguised as military programs.
Category activity
“romance scam”
↑ 168%Watch for
- A person claiming to be deployed asks for money to cover leave, communication, or travel that the military actually provides.
- The service member cannot do a live video call and always has an excuse related to deployment security.
- A company offers to help you access VA benefits for an upfront fee when the VA provides this service for free.
Common searches
military romance impersonation scam
Scammers steal photos and identities of real service members to create fake dating profiles, building romantic relationships to eventually request money for supposed deployment needs.
Reverse image search the profile photos — stolen military photos are commonly reused across scam accounts.
Military families
U.S.
deployment leave fee scam
A scammer posing as a deployed service member asks a romantic interest to pay for leave paperwork or travel costs so they can come home — fees that do not exist in any military branch.
Understand that no branch of the U.S. military charges service members or their families for leave.
Military families
U.S.
military benefits fraud scam
Scammers contact veterans or active-duty personnel claiming to help them access unclaimed military benefits, then steal personal information or charge fraudulent processing fees.
Access all military benefits directly through VA.gov or your local VA office — never through a third party.
Veterans
U.S.
VA loan scam
Scammers pose as VA-approved lenders offering exclusive mortgage deals to veterans, then collect application fees and personal financial information without providing any actual loan.
Verify any VA lender through the VA's official lender search at va.gov before providing information.
Veterans
U.S.
military discount phishing scam
Fake websites or emails offer exclusive military discounts that require you to verify your service by entering personal information, military ID details, or login credentials.
Access military discounts only through official channels like ID.me, SheerID, or the retailer's official military page.
Active duty
U.S.
fake military charity scam
Fraudulent charities use names and imagery similar to legitimate veterans organizations to solicit donations that never reach service members or their families.
Verify any charity through Charity Navigator, GuideStar, or the BBB Wise Giving Alliance before donating.
Military families
U.S.
PCS military moving scam
Fraudulent moving companies target military families during permanent change of station relocations, giving low estimates then holding belongings hostage for inflated fees.
Verify any moving company through the FMCSA database at protectyourmove.gov and check for active licensing.
Active duty
U.S.
military spouse job scam
Scammers target military spouses with fake work-from-home job offers that require upfront fees for training materials or equipment, exploiting the challenges of frequent relocations.
Never pay upfront for a job — legitimate employers cover training and equipment costs.
Military spouses
U.S.
fake military equipment sale scam
Scammers list military surplus gear, vehicles, or equipment on auction sites at attractive prices, collect payment, and never deliver the items.
Purchase legitimate military surplus only through GovPlanet, GovSales.gov, or other authorized government liquidation platforms.
Veterans
U.S.
veteran grant scam
Scammers contact veterans claiming they qualify for a special government grant but must pay a processing or tax fee upfront to receive the funds.
Know that the government never calls to offer grants or asks for fees to release government funds.
Veterans
U.S.
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