Veterans Day is a fitting moment to honor the service and sacrifice of our veterans—and at the same time, to shine a spotlight on a threat that all too often goes underrecognized: the rising tide of identity theft and cyber fraud aimed squarely at the very people who serve and protect our country.
A Targeted Threat
Veterans and military-connected individuals face elevated risks when it comes to identity theft, data compromise, and benefits fraud. 86% of servicemembers and veterans reported experiencing at least one service-related scam in the past year—and many of the most damaging attacks involve exploitation of veteran benefits, identity misuse, and fake solicitations.
Military consumers are more likely than civilians to have an identity thief open new accounts in their name or misuse an existing account, due in part to the unique attributes of military service: frequent relocation, overlapping identifiers, remote deployments, and complex benefit flows. For veterans, that means the same protections and awareness tools every consumer should use are needed, plus a few extra layers of vigilance.
Why It Matters
Identity theft for veterans is more than just a financial nuisance. Fraudsters may attempt to divert monthly benefit payments, impersonate the veteran to apply for loans, or use stolen credentials to access healthcare or other services.
Once this type of fraud starts, the ripple effects can include ruined credit, denied benefits, difficulty getting loans or housing, and, in some cases, threats to security clearances or career advancement.
What You Can Do (Even if You’re Not a Veteran)
Whether you’re a veteran, a family member, or want to help safeguard those who served, these steps can make a real difference:
- Safeguard Sensitive Documents. A veteran’s ID, service records, VA benefit statements, and Social Security number are all gold for fraudsters. Keep physical copies secure, shred unneeded papers, and lock down digital files.
- Monitor for Unusual Activity. Check credit reports regularly, keep an eye on bank statements and benefit disbursements, and be alert for mail you weren’t expecting or changes you didn’t initiate.
- Be Skeptical of Unsolicited Contact. Phone calls, texts, or emails claiming to be from the VA, military charities, or benefit administrators requesting personal data should be treated with caution. These are common vehicles for scams targeting veterans.
- Use Alerts or Restoration Services. Set up account or credit alerts to catch suspicious activity early. For added peace of mind, choose a fully managed identity restoration service that handles recovery for you if fraud occurs.
- Talk About It. If you’re a family member, friend, or caregiver of a veteran—or a veteran yourself—having an open conversation about identity theft risk brings it out of the shadows. Awareness is one of the most powerful defenses.
LibertyID Business Solutions provides customer WISP protocols, advanced information security employee training, third-party vendor management tools, and post-breach regulatory response and notification services. This allows businesses to improve the safeguards surrounding their consumers’ private data and head toward a compliant posture in relation to the federal FTC and often overlooked state regulations. Along with the components mentioned, LibertyID Business Solutions includes our gold-standard identity fraud restoration management services for employees and their families.