Calling all military families and veterans! Are you looking to protect yourself or your family from fraud, identity theft, and scams? Maybe you’re curious about the best way to use credit, shop for a used car, or maximize your security online.
Military folks are consumers, too – and critical to the economy. Just ask the 1.4 million men and women on active duty or the 1.1 million in the National Guard and Reserve forces. But the unique challenges of military life – frequent relocation, separation from family and friends, and the stresses of deployment – can make military households an attractive target for scam artists. In fact, during 2012 the Federal Trade Commission logged more than 62,000 complaints from servicemembers, veterans, and spouses about their experiences in the marketplace.
That led the FTC and its partners to sponsor Military Consumer Protection Day on July 17, 2013. It’s a great day to empower military and veteran communities with information as the first line of defense against consumer fraud. Take a look at Military.ncpw.gov for free tips and tools from the FTC, Department of Defense, Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, Military Saves and more than a dozen other federal and state agencies, consumer advocates and military support groups. These organizations have joined forces to distribute resources to help you avoid scams, invest wisely, manage money and credit, and deal with debt. The outreach toolkit has tips so you can help spread the word. Distribute free materials or host an event on July 17 – or any time throughout the year. Visit military.ncpw.gov to download a sample press release, newsletter article, event flyer, social media posts, and ideas for sharing a Humvee full of practical, no-nonsense resources with your friends, family, retirees, veterans, and colleagues in the military.
