In the lead-up to Veterans Day on November 11, Attorney General Keith Ellison issued a warning to Minnesota's veterans about fraudulent entities known as "claim sharks." These individuals or companies charge illegal fees for assisting veterans with filing their VA benefit claims. The announcement is part of the Attorney General's monthly Scam Stoppers initiative, designed to shield Minnesota consumers from prevalent scams.
Claim sharks are not accredited by the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) as mandated by federal law. They use aggressive and misleading advertising to target veterans and their families. Often, they persuade these individuals to sign contracts that contain unfair terms, demanding large fees or a percentage of benefit increases. Some even make false promises about speeding up the claims process or securing certain disability ratings, although only the VA can determine these ratings.
Attorney General Ellison emphasized, “It’s unacceptable when scammers target any Minnesotan. It’s particularly galling when scammers go after Minnesota’s veterans, who have risked and sacrificed so much on our behalf."
Veterans are entitled to free assistance from VA-accredited attorneys, claims agents, and VSO representatives. In Minnesota, companies offering veteran benefit services must disclose this before accepting payment. The VA provides resources online for finding accredited representatives.
To protect their benefits, veterans should only share sensitive information with accredited professionals and never give out login credentials for accessing personal data like those for VA.gov. It's also crucial for them to review forms carefully and avoid working with anyone unwilling to sign a VA representation form.
Ellison urges veterans to report scams promptly using a form created by his office to assist in reporting deceptive practices related to veteran benefits assistance. He notes that many feel embarrassed when scammed but stresses the importance of speaking out.
If targeted by a scam, individuals can file a complaint with Attorney General Ellison's office online or contact them at (651) 296-3353 or (800) 657-3787.