A Veterans Day reminder on how to spot scams on social media

For veterans, social media might be one of the easiest ways to keep in touch with friends from past duty stations and loved ones back home. But what’s shared on platforms like Facebook, Instagram, and TikTok can also make it easier for scammers to connect with you. Here’s a Veterans Day reminder of how scams may show up on social media to help you and your fellow veterans spot and avoid these scams.

Some scammers use what they can see in your profile — like your military history, promotion photos, and tagged locations — to message you about real-sounding (but fake) veteran grant programs. They might say they work for the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) and send you to real-looking (but fake) websites to see if you “qualify.” What the scammer really wants is for you to share personal information like your Social Security number or VA.gov login credentials. (Hint: The VA will never message you on social media.) 

Some scammers also use fake profiles and military jargon to get you to stop scrolling. You might spot a flashy video ad on your newsfeed with someone who says they’re looking to teach “fellow veterans” a guaranteed way to beat the stock market. (Another hint: Investments always come with risk.) 

Here’s how to avoid scams on social media:

• Limit who can see your posts and contacts on social media. Visit your privacy settings on each platform to set some restrictions, so scammers have less to work with.
• Never let someone you met on social media direct your investment decisions. Instead, learn more about spotting investment scams.
• Verify any offers for VA benefits through VA.gov. And use the VA’s Accreditation Search Tool to make sure anyone who helps you apply for benefits is recognized by the VA.

If you spot a scam that targets veterans, report it at VSAFE.gov or by calling 833-38V-SAFE.