OREGON – Veterans and their families should be cautious of bad actors charging high fees for services that are available for free through accredited organizations like the Veterans Assistance Commission (VAC), Illinois Department of Veterans Affairs (IDVA), Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW), and American Legion (AL). Veterans Assistance Commission of Ogle County Superintendent Luz Maria Gilkey said these illegitimate companies will take advantage of veterans.
“You deserve every penny that you get and that’s what you need to be careful that they’re not taking advantage of you. There’s many organizations out there that are free and that are benefit for you. The Veterans Assistance Commission of Ogle County, 815-255-9181 is one. There’s also the IDVA out there. There’s also other VACs, their County Veterans Service Officers that can help you,” she said.
In 2022, veterans reported $292 million in fraud losses, according to the Federal Trade Commission.
