For Wisconsin Veterans, a Heads-Up on Fraud

Research shows that veterans and active-duty military service members are more likely to be targeted for fraud than the civilian population — and AARP is hoping to do something about that this year.

From a Veterans Fraud Center workshop to Scam Jams in three different cities across the state, AARP Wisconsin is highlighting the crimes that are more likely to target — and ensnare — veterans. These events are part of a larger veterans outreach effort, which will also include the launch of the Southeastern Wisconsin AARP Veterans Advisory Council aimed at offering more resources and programs to veterans.

“When you look at the kinds of scams that target veterans and military families, a lot of it has to do with government benefits — and we all know government benefit programs are not always the easiest to navigate,” says Courtney Anclam, a senior program specialist who leads AARP Wisconsin’s fraud protection team. That complexity creates opportunities for criminals to exploit.

Consider the PACT Act, which passed in 2022 and provides benefits to veterans who were exposed to toxic chemicals during the Vietnam, Gulf and post-9/11 wars. After the law passed, scammers began targeting veterans by email, phone and social media to try and access their PACT Act benefits or submit claims on their behalf.

A lot of the time, Anclam says, they pose as officials from the Department of Veterans Affairs. “When you don’t hear from the VA for a while and then somebody reaches out and says they’re from the VA, it’s kind of hard to verify that sometimes,” she says.

In all, veterans, active-duty service members and their families are nearly 40 percent more likely than the civilian population to lose money to scams and fraud, according to a 2021 AARP report. (If you’re looking for help navigating the VA process, you can learn how to find a representative from a veterans service organization at va.gov/get-help-from-accredited-representative.)

Scam Jams, other initiatives

Each Scam Jam will feature a panel of speakers discussing schemes that target veterans as well as the general population.

The events are scheduled for the Milwaukee area in May, Madison in the fall and a third city yet to be announced. (The Milwaukee-area event will be held Wednesday, May 21, at the Oak Creek Community Center, 8580 S. Howell Ave., Oak Creek; registration at events.aarp.org/event/WI_ScamJam2025.)

Meanwhile, the Veterans Advisory Council for AARP Wisconsin will be modeled on successful AARP initiatives in states like California, Florida and Wyoming, says Amber Miller, senior associate state director for outreach for AARP Wisconsin. The council will be roughly 10 members, have people from diverse backgrounds and ages, and include both veterans and family members.

One priority: letting veterans know what resources and other services are available to them. Included are job searches, fraud protection, benefits, respite care and caregiving.

AARP Wisconsin will hold a virtual workshop on caregiving for veterans, military families and their caregivers on Tuesday, May 20. Register for it here. To view upcoming virtual veterans events, please visit aarp.org/wi.

Serving as a resource for veterans

Jim Piontek, a long-time AARP volunteer who lives in the Milwaukee suburb of Franklin, will be one of the members of the Veterans Advisory Council.

“We’re here to help all veterans and military families, whether they are or are not AARP members,” stresses Piontek, 78, a former manufacturing manager at Rockwell Automation who retired 21 years ago.

Part of that is connecting veterans with the right resources. Veterans involved with the VA health system might know where to go for their health care concerns. But others aren’t so sure.

“There’s a lot of veterans out there who don’t require health care and they’re not exactly sure where to go if they need some type of other help,” Piontek says.

That’s where AARP comes in.

“AARP is a provider of information for veterans as opposed to being a service provider,” Piontek says. “So our goal is to get the information out so we can guide veterans to where they can get the help they’re looking for.”

The AARP Veterans and Military Families Initiative helps veterans locate those and other resources at aarp.org/veterans.

Veterans interested in volunteering with AARP Wisconsin, or learning more about the organization, should email wisstate@aarp.org with their name, address, phone number and email address.

Frederic J. Frommer has worked as a journalist for more than 30 years, including 16 years at The Associated Press, and is the author of several books.

 Also of interest:

• PACT Act Benefits: What Veterans Need to Know
• How to Get Caregiving Help From the VA
• Five of the Biggest Scams to Watch For in 2025