$12.5B
FTC-reported fraud losses in 2024
FTC says consumers reported losing $12.5 billion to fraud in 2024.
veteran and military charity scam
Fraudulent organizations use names similar to legitimate veteran charities to solicit donations, with most or all funds going to the operators rather than veterans.
“charity scam”
↑ 142%Key indicators
Estimated impact
$960
median reported loss
Typical range$60 – $6.0K
Recovery rate~15%
Scam breakdown
1
Scammers create organizations with names resembling legitimate veteran charities
2
They solicit donations through aggressive phone campaigns, using emotional appeals about wounded veterans
3
The vast majority of collected funds go to professional fundraisers and the operators, not to veteran services
What to do first
Verify veteran charities on Charity Navigator or the BBB Wise Giving Alliance before donating
Related terms
fake veterans charitymilitary support fraudwounded warrior impersonator scamCharity scamsPhoneSurgingDonorsPatriotic AmericansOlder adultsRetirees and seniorsMilitary and veteransNonprofit and charity workersUnited Statesfake veterans charitymilitary support fraud
Real-world example
How this scam plays out in practice
Based on reported patterns. Names and details are illustrative.
The setup
Thomas, 35, a donors, encountered what appeared to be a legitimate charity scams situation while using Phone. Scammers create organizations with names resembling legitimate veteran charities
Step 2
What happened next was calculated: They solicit donations through aggressive phone campaigns, using emotional appeals about wounded veterans
Step 3
The pressure escalated quickly: The vast majority of collected funds go to professional fundraisers and the operators, not to veteran services
The outcome
Thomas realized something was wrong when charity name is very similar to a well-known veterans organization but slightly different. By that point, significant damage had already been done — money sent, personal information shared, or trust exploited.
The lesson
Verify veteran charities on Charity Navigator or the BBB Wise Giving Alliance before donating Thomas's experience shows why charity name is very similar to a well-known veterans organization but slightly different and caller uses high-pressure tactics and emotional stories to demand an immediate donation are the clearest early warning signs.
How to identify it
- Charity name is very similar to a well-known veterans organization but slightly different
- Caller uses high-pressure tactics and emotional stories to demand an immediate donation
- Charity cannot provide clear information on how donations are used
- Pause before paying, clicking, or sharing information. Scammers rely on speed.
- Verify the sender, company, or agency using a phone number or website you already know is legitimate.
- Treat secrecy, urgency, and off-platform payment requests as strong scam signals.
What to do now
- ✓Verify veteran charities on Charity Navigator or the BBB Wise Giving Alliance before donating
- ✓Ask for the charity's EIN (Employer Identification Number) and look it up on the IRS Tax Exempt Organization Search
- ✓Report suspicious veteran charity solicitations to the FTC and your state charity regulator
What to save before reporting
- ✓Save the message, profile, phone number, email, or URL that was used.
- ✓Keep payment confirmations, receipts, and account alerts before you dispute or delete anything.
- ✓Write down the timeline while the details are still fresh.
- ✓Save the full chat or call log before blocking the sender so the reporting path still has the original context.
How big is this problem
You are not alone — this scam affects millions of people.
These numbers come from government agencies and official reports. If you have been affected, know that this is a widespread problem — not something that only happens to careless people.
FTC 2024 fraud losses
Imposters
Most common FTC fraud category in 2024
FTC says imposter scams remained the most commonly reported fraud category in 2024.
History and evolution
- This scam family tends to persist because the social-engineering pressure works even when the exact scripts, platforms, and payment methods change.
- The specific packaging evolves over time, but the core pattern usually stays the same: create urgency, control the channel, and push action before verification.
- The FTC and state attorneys general have shut down multiple fraudulent veteran charities that raised tens of millions while providing negligible services
Recovery and follow-up
- ✓Save the messages, receipts, account alerts, and transaction details before you block or delete anything.
- ✓Report the scam through the official platform or government channel that best matches where it happened.
- ✓Tell close contacts if a phone or text scam used your identity, so scammers cannot reuse the same story against people around you.
- ✓Verify veteran charities on Charity Navigator or the BBB Wise Giving Alliance before donating
- ✓Ask for the charity's EIN (Employer Identification Number) and look it up on the IRS Tax Exempt Organization Search
Why this pattern keeps working
Even when the story changes, most scams still use the same pressure pattern: urgency, authority, and a request to move money or data fast.
The FTC and state attorneys general have shut down multiple fraudulent veteran charities that raised tens of millions while providing negligible services
FTC Consumer Sentinel 2025
Where to report it
If you have been targeted by this scam, reporting it helps authorities track the pattern and protect others. United States has dedicated agencies that handle fraud reports.
ReportFraud.gov
Federal Trade Commission
Central U.S. consumer fraud reporting portal.
File an IC3 complaint
FBI Internet Crime Complaint Center
FBI portal for internet-enabled crime reports.
Start identity theft recovery
IdentityTheft.gov
Official U.S. identity theft recovery plan builder.
Explore further
Understand the bigger picture
Who is most at risk
Who this scam targets
Primary targets
Donors, Patriotic Americans, Older adults
Geographic concentration
United States
Primary channel
Phone — Charity scams
Why this group is vulnerable
Donors are particularly vulnerable because this scam exploits trust in familiar brands, authority figures, and time-sensitive decisions. The rapid increase in reports suggests that awareness among this demographic remains low.
Sources and methodology
How we verify this information
OpenScam tracks scam patterns using a combination of government consumer protection databases (FTC, IC3, Action Fraud), platform-specific fraud reports, and verified consumer complaint data. Each entry is cross-referenced against at least two independent sources before publication.
Severity ratings are based on financial impact potential, reversibility of damage, and volume of reports across multiple reporting channels. Trend velocity reflects the rate of change in report volume over the most recent 90-day window.
This page was last verified on 2026-04-04. Red flags, recovery steps, and reporting resources are reviewed quarterly against current agency guidance.
Evidence and indicators
- The FTC and state attorneys general have shut down multiple fraudulent veteran charities that raised tens of millions while providing negligible services
Source notes
- FTC Consumer Sentinel 2025
Frequently asked questions
Common questions about veteran and military charity scam
How does the veteran and military charity scam work?+
Scammers create organizations with names resembling legitimate veteran charities They solicit donations through aggressive phone campaigns, using emotional appeals about wounded veterans The vast majority of collected funds go to professional fundraisers and the operators, not to veteran services
What are the warning signs of veteran and military charity scam?+
Charity name is very similar to a well-known veterans organization but slightly different Caller uses high-pressure tactics and emotional stories to demand an immediate donation Charity cannot provide clear information on how donations are used
What should I do if I encounter veteran and military charity scam?+
Verify veteran charities on Charity Navigator or the BBB Wise Giving Alliance before donating Ask for the charity's EIN (Employer Identification Number) and look it up on the IRS Tax Exempt Organization Search Report suspicious veteran charity solicitations to the FTC and your state charity regulator
Who is most at risk for veteran and military charity scam?+
This scam primarily targets Donors, Patriotic Americans, Older adults. It is most commonly reported in United States and typically appears on Phone.
Is veteran and military charity scam getting worse?+
veteran and military charity scam is currently surging — reports are increasing rapidly. It has been reported across US. Last updated 2026-04-04.
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Help someone avoid this scam.
Scammers succeed because people do not talk about it. If you or someone you know has been affected, there is no shame in it — it happens to millions of people every year. Share this page with friends and family so they know what to look for.