VA-connected scams aren’t a new threat, but the department has warned veterans to be wary of a specific type of fraud targeting those who receive VA compensation.

Scammers will reach out to the veteran and claim there’s been an overpayment of VA benefits, and that the veteran must repay the funds immediately. Among the warning signs outlined by the VA and the Federal Trade Commission (FTC):

• The communication (letter, email, text, or social media message) will claim to be from a VA or VA-related agency, but will come from an unknown or unfamiliar account or number.
  
  
• The scammers will demand urgent action to avoid penalty or prosecution.
  
  
• Payment will be requested via nontraditional means (cryptocurrency or gift cards, for example).
  
  
• Along with the request for funds, the beneficiary will be asked for “sensitive or personal information.”

[RELATED: More Scam and Fraud Prevention Resources From MOAA]

What to Do

If you receive this communication, basic anti-scam actions apply: Don’t click suspicious links or answer suspicious calls, don’t rush to take any action (especially anything involving payment), and reach out directly to the agency involved using trusted contact information with any questions or concerns.

When it comes to overpayment scams, one easy way to confirm such notifications is to log into your VA.gov account, where you can check any balances due. Note: VA will never ask you to share login information, so if you’ve been contacted by a third party seeking a password or authentication code, it’s a scam.

You can also contact the VA at (800) 827-1000 or the FTC at ReportFraud.ftc.gov to report suspected fraud.

Overpayment Issues

Veterans may need to repay VA overpayments for a variety of reasons, to include claims processing errors or unreported status changes (a divorce, for instance). The VA reportedly overpaid more than $1.3 billion in benefits last year.

These payments must be made directly to the VA; any third party requests are likely from scammers.

You can dispute your VA debt via an online form, or you can request help repaying the debt online or by calling (800) 827-0648. This fact sheet prepared by Iowa Legal Aid offers even more details, to include definitions of key terms, how to request a hearing on money owed, and information on appeal deadlines.