The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) is alerting veterans to a fraudulent scheme involving a flyer that falsely promises free athletic shoes. The scam utilizes VA-style branding, health and wellness language, and even includes a legitimate VA phone number to appear credible, potentially leading unsuspecting veterans to divulge sensitive information.

The deceptive flyer suggests that veterans are eligible for free athletic shoes at no cost. It features popular shoe brands and outlines a process for redemption that seemingly involves a VA provider. The VA has stated that this promotion did not originate from any official VA program, including VPRs, Central Office, or Whole Health.

This tactic is designed to exploit the trust veterans place in the VA. Scammers often combine familiar agency names and official-looking designs with plausible offers to lower individuals' guard. The inclusion of the MyVA phone number, while a real contact, is a common strategy for scammers to lend authenticity to their fraudulent schemes.

The primary danger of this scam lies not in the offer of shoes, but in the subsequent steps. Responding to the flyer could lead veterans to a phishing page, a bogus form, a QR code trap, or direct requests for personal details. This information could include Social Security numbers, VA login credentials, health information, addresses, bank account details, or credit card numbers. Once personal data is compromised, scammers may use it for further targeting through follow-up calls, texts, or emails.

Veterans who encounter this fake offer are strongly advised not to click on any links, scan QR codes, or share personal information. Instead, they should warn others about the scam without spreading the deceptive material itself.

To safeguard against such scams, the VA recommends several preventative measures:

  • Verify Offers: Always confirm any VA-related offers directly through official channels such as VA.gov, an official VA account, or a local VA facility. Do not rely on information from flyers, social media, texts, or forwarded images.
  • Avoid Suspicious Links and Codes: Refrain from scanning QR codes or clicking on links from unknown sources, as they can lead to fake websites designed to steal information. It is safer to type web addresses directly into your browser or search for the official VA page.
  • Protect Login Credentials: Never share VA.gov username, password, or sign-in codes. The VA will not request this information via email.
  • Guard Personal and Health Information: Treat Social Security numbers, addresses, dates of birth, medical details, and benefit information as sensitive. Legitimate offers should not require such data through unsolicited forms.
  • Use Trusted Contact Numbers: If you have questions, use official phone numbers found on the VA website or from your local VA facility, not those provided on suspicious flyers.
  • Report Suspicious Activity: Veterans who suspect fraud can report it via VSAFE.gov or by calling 1-833-38V-SAFE. These reports help agencies track and combat scams.
  • Employ Security Software: Use robust antivirus software to protect against malware if you inadvertently click a bad link or download a file.
  • Consider Data Removal Services: These services can help reduce the amount of personal information available online, making it harder for scammers to target individuals.
  • Act Quickly if Compromised: If you have already provided information, immediately change your VA.gov password, enable multifactor authentication, and monitor your accounts for any suspicious activity.

By staying vigilant and adhering to these security practices, veterans can better protect themselves from falling victim to such deceptive schemes.