A veteran checking a phone warning.
By June Mercer | November 10, 2026
New York AG Releases Veterans Day Scam Warning and Field Guide
On November 9, Attorney General Letitia James issued a consumer alert warning New Yorkers about scams targeting military service members and veterans. Her office released a new online field guide alongside the alert. Both arrived one day before Veterans Day.
Why Scammers Target the Military Community
Service members and veterans draw steady paychecks and move often. The VA benefits system is complicated, and many veterans struggle to navigate it without help. Their credit scores carry unusually high stakes: a low score can cost a service member a security clearance or block a promotion. That combination makes them predictable targets.
Service members, veterans, and their families are nearly 40 percent more likely than civilians to lose money to scams and fraud, according to the Attorney General's Office.
Six Schemes the Guide Covers
The field guide identifies six recurring fraud types.
Predatory retail financing hides the true cost of overpriced, low-quality goods by quoting per-pay-period prices instead of the full amount.
VA claims assistance fraud involves operators who charge veterans to prepare initial VA claims while promising faster processing or larger benefit awards. That practice is unlawful.
Pension scams lure veterans into handing over pension payments in exchange for overstated promises of instant cash.
Imposter scams cast a wide net. A fraudster may pose as a government agency, a family member, or a business to extract money or sensitive personal information.
Fake veterans charities solicit donations that never reach the people they claim to serve.
Credit monitoring pitches target deployed service members who are overseas and least positioned to respond quickly.
What to Do
The Attorney General's Office advises never sharing a DFAS myPay or VA.gov login with anyone. The guide walks through protective steps using the PATROL acronym. New Yorkers who spot a suspected scam can call the Office of the Attorney General complaint hotline at 1-800-771-7755. The full guide is available at ag.ny.gov/publications/military-scams.
