Job scams: Never pay to work

Job scams rank among the top predatory schemes that veterans and military families encounter, according to a recent VA warning with a simple message: never pay to work. The VA notice points out that hiring scams are especially deceptive because they go after more than money. They also seek personal information and sensitive documents, and they can take many forms that are equally damaging.

Anyone searching for remote work or a higher income can become a target, but veterans, service members, and their families are singled out because of their access to benefits. VA says that reports from the Federal Trade Commission and the Better Business Bureau show military-connected consumers suffered a higher median dollar loss than non-military consumers. Total reported losses in those reports came to $584 million. The VA office behind the warning, Benefits Delivery Protection and Remediation, focuses on safeguarding veterans, service members, and beneficiaries from online threats.

The scam itself is simple. Scammers post fake job ads online, on social media, and even on legitimate job search websites. They sometimes make the ads look like they come from real companies. They may also send texts to your personal phone. The goal is to get money or personal information from you, and VA notes that scammers keep refining their methods as technology advances.

This affects veterans at every rating level, but the stakes can be higher for those with a disability rating. Many disabled veterans look for remote or flexible work because of mobility limits, chronic pain, or health conditions that make a traditional workplace hard to manage. That makes remote job offers appealing, and scammers know it. A stolen Social Security number or bank account can also put compensation, pension, and other benefit payments at risk, which is why a fake employer can do harm well beyond a single lost payment.

VA's guidance is to approach every job opportunity cautiously until you know the company and the job are real. The title of the warning gives a useful rule of thumb: a legitimate employer does not ask you to pay in order to work. Be wary of any offer that asks for upfront money, or that asks for sensitive documents or personal details before you have verified who is hiring. Unsolicited texts to your personal phone about a job you never applied for deserve the same skepticism.

For DVB readers, the bigger picture is that protecting your identity is part of protecting your benefits. Your disability compensation, health care enrollment, and other earned benefits are tied to personal information that scammers want. A fraudulent job application can hand over exactly what they need. Veterans who are already managing a service-connected condition should not have to also recover from a financial or identity loss, so a few minutes of verification up front is worth the effort.

If you are job hunting, check that the company exists through sources you find yourself rather than through links or phone numbers in the ad or text. Do not share your Social Security number, bank details, or copies of identification until you are confident the employer is real. If you suspect you have experienced fraud, VA directs veterans and military families to report it at vsafe.gov or by calling 833-38V-SAFE. For general help with VA matters, you can call 1-800-698-2411, and your accredited Veterans Service Organization representative can also help if you are unsure whether a request involving your benefits is legitimate. Share this warning with fellow veterans and family members, especially anyone who has recently been looking for remote work.