Veterans: That "Extra Benefits" Postcard Is a Scam

What Happened

Veterans across the country, including here in Arizona, are receiving postcards in the mail claiming they qualify for additional monthly benefits through something called the "Veterans Savings Program." The postcards mention real programs like CHAMPVA and TRICARE For Life to look official. They are not from the VA. They are from scammers.

How the Scam Works

The postcard arrives in your mailbox and references your state of residence. It mentions legitimate VA programs by name, which makes it look real. The message creates urgency, telling you to call a phone number right away or you will lose your benefits. When you call, the person on the other end asks for your Social Security number, your bank account information, or both.

Some versions come by email, text, or social media message instead of a postcard. The goal is always the same: get your personal information so they can steal your identity or drain your accounts.

Red Flags

• A postcard or message claiming you qualify for "extra" VA benefits you never applied for.
• Urgency language like "call within five days or lose your benefits."
• A request to call a phone number you have never seen before.
• Anyone asking for your Social Security number or bank information over the phone.
• Flattery about your military service followed by a request for personal details.
• Demands for payment by gift card, wire transfer, or cryptocurrency.

What You Should Do

Do not call the number on the postcard. Do not respond to the message. If you want to check on your VA benefits, call the VA directly at 1-800-827-1000. That is the real VA Benefits Hotline, and it is the only number you should use.

If you or someone you know received one of these postcards, report it. You can file a report at VSAFE.gov or call 1-833-38V-SAFE (1-833-387-7233). You can also report it to the FTC at ReportFraud.ftc.gov.

Pete's Bottom Line

This one is personal for me. Sun City is home to a lot of veterans, and scammers know it. They are counting on the fact that a postcard looks official and that people trust anything connected to the VA. The real VA will never send you a postcard asking you to call a random phone number and hand over your Social Security number. If it shows up in your mailbox, throw it away and call the VA directly. That is the safest move.

Where to Report It

• VA Benefits Hotline: 1-800-827-1000
• VA fraud reporting: VSAFE.gov or 1-833-38V-SAFE (1-833-387-7233)
• FTC: ReportFraud.ftc.gov
• Arizona Attorney General: (602) 542-5763 (Phoenix), (520) 628-6648 (Tucson), or (800) 352-8431 (statewide)
• Forward suspicious texts to 7726 (SPAM)

Source

FTC Consumer Alert, "How to spot a postcard scam targeting veterans," August 24, 2026. Second source: VA News, "Fraud alert: Beware the Veterans Savings Program postcard scam," June 10, 2026, updated July 2, 2026.

Scam-Proof Senior

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