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OLDER VETERANS TARGET OF SCAMMERS -- The scam is

perpetrated by individuals who offer to help veterans and

their dependents apply for VA benefits. They then charge

fees of $700 or more for their so-called services.

This is going on all over the country.  In my hometown of Vancouver, WA there's a company that does this right out in the open.

For more about scams on veterans, use the VA Watchdog search engine...click here...
http://www.yourvabenefits.org/sessearch.php?q=scam+&op=and

Story here... http://www.orovillemr.com/news/ci_7816405

Story below:

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Scam targets vets in Butte County

By Mary Weston/Staff Writer

The Butte County Veterans Service Office (VSO) warns the public of a scam directed at older veterans in nursing homes and other facilities.

The scam is perpetrated by individuals who offer to help veterans and their dependents apply for VA benefits. They then charge fees of $700 or more for their so called services. The same services are offered for free by organizations certified by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs.

Jessica Olson, a veterans service representative for Butte County VSO in Chico, said this has been an ongoing problem for years that has increased.

"It has become extremely worse lately," Olson said. "It's a major scam in this area. It has happened in Oroville, Chico, Paradise and Redding."

She said older veterans are also being approached in their homes. Some veterans have been taken for as much as $180,000 to $200,000 in retroactive pay.

According to a letter from Olson, these companies offering services to veterans for a fee are neither associated with nor certified by the VA to help veterans and their family members file claims.

Also there is no benefit in using them to get or expedite a claim. Claims would not go through sooner or have a better outcome by paying hundreds of dollars to these people.

Olson said the individuals often offer financial planning or retirement services to the vets, which is legal, but it is illegal to offer veterans services for a fee, which is why they sometimes bill for retirement or financial services instead.

The scam is played out in the following scenario. They usually approach nursing homes and assisted living facilities to give a VA benefits briefing to veterans and/or their family members.

The nursing homes usually do not know that these organizations are prohibited by law from preparing claims for a fee, and they are also unaware that the services are provided for free by recognized veterans' service organizations.

Sometimes the individuals promise to file claims for free and later bill the claimant for other services.

Consequently, vets wind up paying for a service they could receive for free from agencies certified by the VA. Additionally, certified organizations are trained by the VA and have a clear understanding of the VA claims, rating and appeal process.

Since the individuals charging for this service do not work for organizations that are VA recognized, they structure their business to receive payment for services from the claimants' private care providers in an attempt to avoid criminal penalties.

If you or someone you know has been approached by or has paid someone other than an attorney to file for VA benefits, call the VA toll free number at 1-800-827-1000 or the Butte County VSO at 530-891-2759.

The director of the Department of Veterans Affairs Veterans Benefits Administration sent a letter warning regional veterans offices and centers about the scam.

According to the letter, the VA currently recognizes 87 veterans service organizations consisting of 37 national organizations and 50 state and regional organizations for purposes of representing veterans. All of these organizations provide representation at no cost to the veteran, and by law, may not charge any other person for representation.

You can verify recognized organizations and accredited individuals on the General Counsel's Web page at www.va.gov . Click on Organizations at the top of the page. Under Staff Organizations, click on General Counsel. When that page opens, click on Recognized Veterans Service Organizations on the left side and then click on Current Bulletin 23-S. This will give you the list of recognized organizations.

If you want to see the list of individuals who are accredited through each organization, click on Current Bulletin 2-151.

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Larry Scott  --

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