From the HQ Website, courtesy of VFWHQ Twittering:
A con artist has been preying on the generosity of sympathetic veterans and has managed to bilk numerous VFW Posts around the country out of as much as $400 each by posing as either a veteran who has “filled out an application†to join a specific Post or as a current VFW member.
The scammer has used a couple of different approaches when he calls a Post asking for a specific Post Officer by name for financial assistance, usually alleging to be experiencing some sort of car trouble and has even gone as far as to claim to be the parent of an Iraq veteran on his “way to the funeral for his son killed in Iraq.†He has also used a bogus story about how he recently visited a Post while introducing his son, “just back from Iraq†to various Post members. The swindler apparently goes on-line beforehand and obtains information about the Post in order to include details about the Post to help lend credibility to his story.
According to information received by VFW national headquarters, VFW Posts in AL, OK, WV, TX, KS and MO have responded by wiring money to the man who promises to repay the cash as soon as he returns home. So far, the sum being requested is in the $200- $500 range. Western Union doesn’t require identification for sums under $1000.
It’s shameful that someone would prey upon the good intentions and honorable obligations of our posts like this, but why should veterans be any different than any other organization when it comes to these ploys. We’re even more susceptible, because it’s often times harder to check out a story like this than it might be for other organizations.
If you get contacted from someone like this, explain to them that you need to verify their story. You don’t have to be rude about it – it could very well be a veteran or a family member that is in need! But when in doubt, check it out. You can always contact the post commander or other senior officer to ask about such a situation. If the person asking for help is sincere, they’ll certainly understand!