Fake VA shoe offer targets veterans

A flyer offering "free diversion shoes from VA" whitethorn look charismatic astatine first glance. It uses VA-style branding, talks astir wellness and wellness and moreover lists nan MyVA telephone number. That is what makes it truthful dangerous.

VA says nan connection falsely claims Veterans tin person free diversion shoes from VA. The agency says nan promotion did not travel from VA and has nary relationship to immoderate charismatic VA program.

The scam appears to beryllium spreading done a flyer and online posts. It tells Veterans they whitethorn beryllium eligible for free diversion shoes "at nary costs to you." It besides shows celebrated footwear brands, steps to "redeem" shoes and a process that appears to impact a VA provider.

That whitethorn beryllium capable to get personification to click, call, stock aliases guardant earlier they extremity to think.

MEDICAL IDENTITY THEFT FOLLOWS YOU INTO THE DOCTOR'S OFFICE

Veterans are being warned not to click links, scan QR codes aliases stock individual accusation tied to a clone VA footwear offer. (Kira Hofmann/picture confederation via Getty Images)

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Fake VA footwear offer: what VA says

VA says nan free diversion footwear promotion is fake. It did not travel from an charismatic VA program, including VPRs, Central Office aliases Whole Health.

That is important because nan flyer borrows nan look and consciousness of a trusted authorities agency. It besides uses health language to make nan connection sound for illustration a wellness benefit.

But let's beryllium existent here. A free brace of shoes tin sound harmless until nan adjacent measurement asks for your individual details.

Why nan clone VA footwear flyer looks truthful believable

This scam useful because it mixes acquainted names pinch an official-looking design. The flyer uses VA branding, a health-focused connection and well-known diversion footwear brands.

It besides presents nan connection arsenic a benefit. That tin make group consciousness for illustration they whitethorn miss retired if they do not act.

Scammers cognize that veterans and families often woody pinch a batch of paperwork, use updates and wellness attraction messages. A clone flyer tin descent into that disorder and consciousness much believable than it should.

How scammers usage existent VA specifications to build trust

One sneaky item stands out. The flyer lists nan MyVA number, but that unsocial does not make nan flyer real.

Scammers often operation existent accusation pinch clone offers. A existent telephone number, existent logo aliases acquainted agency sanction tin make group little their guard.

That is why you should verify nan connection done VA.gov, your charismatic VA relationship aliases your section VA installation earlier responding.

What nan clone VA footwear connection could steal

The flyer whitethorn look for illustration it is only astir shoes. The bigger consequence comes next.

A clone connection for illustration this could lead to a phishing page, a bogus form, a QR codification trap aliases personification asking for delicate details. That could see your Social Security number, VA login information, wellness information, address, slope specifications aliases in installments paper number.

Scammers whitethorn besides usage nan accusation to target you again. Once they cognize you responded to a clone VA offer, they whitethorn effort a follow-up call, matter aliases email.

DR OZ WARNS MEDICARE SCAMMERS ARE STEALING BILLIONS — AND YOUR PERSONAL INFORMATION COULD BE NEXT

A clone flyer claiming Veterans tin get free diversion shoes from VA is spreading online, but nan agency says it is not tied to immoderate charismatic program. (U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs)

What to do if you spot nan clone VA footwear offer

Do not stock it. Do not guardant it. Do not capable retired a form. Do not scan immoderate codification connected to it.

Also, do not supply personal, financial aliases wellness accusation because of this flyer.

Instead, pass veterans, family members and colleagues without spreading nan image. A speedy heads-up tin thief personification debar a costly mistake.

Ways to enactment safe from VA scams

A fewer smart habits tin thief you spot clone VA messages earlier they move into a bigger problem.

1) Verify nan connection done VA.gov

Go straight to VA.gov aliases usage your charismatic VA account. Do not trust connected a flyer, societal media post, matter connection aliases forwarded image.

2) Do not scan QR codes aliases click links

A scam flyer whitethorn nonstop you to a clone website that looks official. Type nan web reside yourself aliases hunt for nan VA page directly.

3) Never stock VA login details

Do not springiness anyone your VA.gov username, password aliases sign-in code. VA says it will not inquire you to stock login credentials successful an email.

4) Protect individual and wellness information

Treat your Social Security number, address, day of birth, medical information and benefits specifications arsenic sensitive. A free connection should ne'er require that benignant of accusation from a random form.

QR CODE EMAIL SCAM TARGETS EMPLOYEE REVIEWS

VA says veterans should verify suspicious use offers done VA.gov, an charismatic VA relationship aliases a section VA facility. (Antonio Diaz / Getty Images)

5) Call VA utilizing a trusted number

If you person questions, interaction VA done an charismatic telephone number, nan VA website aliases your section VA facility. Do not spot interaction specifications from a suspicious flyer alone.

6) Report nan clone VA footwear offer

Veterans who fishy fraud tin study it done VSAFE.gov aliases telephone 1-833-38V-SAFE. Reports thief VA and different agencies way scams that target veterans.

7) Use beardown antivirus protection

Strong antivirus package tin thief protect you if you click a bad link, scan a risky QR codification aliases onshore connected a clone website tied to a scam. Good protection tin artifact malicious pages, pass you astir suspicious downloads and thief extremity malware earlier it does damage. Get my picks for nan champion 2026 antivirus protection winners for your Windows, Mac, Android and iOS devices astatine Cyberguy.com.

8) Consider a information removal service

Scammers often usage individual specifications recovered online to make clone offers consciousness much believable. A information removal work tin thief trim really overmuch of your accusation is sitting connected people-search sites, including your address, telephone number and different specifications that tin beryllium utilized to target you. Check retired my apical picks for information removal services and get a free scan to find retired if your individual accusation is already retired connected nan web by visiting CyberGuy.com.

9) Take action accelerated if you responded

If you already clicked, scanned, called aliases shared information, alteration your VA.gov password correct away. Use a trusted password manager to create and shop a strong, unsocial password you do not usage anyplace else. Turn connected multifactor authentication if you person not already done that. Then watch your accounts for suspicious activity.

10) Warn others without forwarding nan flyer

Tell family members, friends and seasoned groups that nan connection is fake, but do not nonstop nan flyer on pinch your warning. Even if your extremity is to help, personification other whitethorn miss your warning, prevention nan image aliases stock it again. Instead, nonstop a short connection that says nan free VA footwear connection is simply a scam and show them to verify immoderate VA use done VA.gov aliases their section VA facility.

Kurt's cardinal takeaways

A free brace of shoes tin make you driblet your guard, particularly erstwhile nan flyer uses VA branding and acquainted footwear names. That is nan full trick. Scammers are utilizing spot to push veterans and families toward a bad link, a clone shape aliases a petition for individual info. Slow down and verify it done VA.gov aliases your section VA facility. And if you want to pass someone, nonstop them a connection saying nan connection is clone alternatively of forwarding nan flyer itself. That keeps nan scam from spreading.

Would this clone VA footwear connection person made you pause, aliases would nan official-looking creation person fooled you? Let america cognize by penning to america astatine CyberGuy.com.

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