“The task force would issue regular recommendations to Congress about how we can better warn service members and veterans about the risk of financial scams and frauds, as well as strengthen our enforcement mechanisms and toughened criminal pellets penalties for those who would seek to take advantage of our men and women in uniform,” Rep. Stephen Lynch, D-Mass., said Wednesday during a hearing of the House Committee on Oversight and Reform subpanel on national security.
Lynch said the task force would be led by the secretaries of the departments of Defense and Veterans Affairs in coordination with representatives from the veteran service organizations and other nongovernmental partners.
Service members and veterans are 40 percent more likely to be exploited by financial fraud, including robocalls, suspicious texts and scam offers, than their civilian counterparts, according to a recent AARP survey. More so, four out of five service members and veterans surveyed in 2021 reported they were targeted by scams directly related to their military service or benefits. One in three reported they lost money because of those scams, the survey found.
The Federal Trade Commission said service members, veterans and their families have reported more than $267 million in financial losses due to scams or frauds in 2021. The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau reported service members submitted more than 42,700 complaints in 2021, a 5% increase compared to 2020 and a 19% increase compared to 2019.
“Younger service members and their families are especially susceptible to exploitation, given their relative lack of financial experience and understandable need for assistance amid frequent relocations, overseas deployments, and the eventual transition back to civilian life,” Lynch said. “Meanwhile, America’s veterans remain vulnerable to financial scams seeking to defraud them of their pension, disability, and other service-connected benefits that they have earned through their dedicated service to our nation.”
If enacted, the task force must be established within 90 days and the group must meet no less than three times a year, said Deni Kamper, the press secretary of the House committee. The task force would also submit a report within 180 days of the law being enacted and submit reports annually.
“There’s not a requirement for the agencies to implement recommendations made by the task force,” Kamper said. “Depending on the substance of the recommendation[s], the agencies may have the authority to implement them on their own, or they may require action from Congress.”
Jim Rice, the assistant director of the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau’s Office of Servicemember Affairs, said during the House subpanel hearing that the bureau was concerned service members are subject to increased risk of identity theft. His office reported service members submitted more than 17,000 credit or consumer complaints, making it their number one complaint category.
Rice said when issues with credit reporting are not resolved, the consequences for service members and their families can include additional costs to get a car loan and a more difficult time finding suitable housing. A negative credit can also result in denial of a security clearance and even separation from service.
Additionally, Rice said his office found issues with medical billing. In 2021, the office saw more than 1,500 complaints related to incorrect medical bills on credit reports.
“Despite the assumption that military service means full medical coverage, we find that service members experience a wide range of debt collection and credit reporting on medical expenses,” he said. “While the national credit reporting companies agreed to remove most medical billing and credit reports by 2023, service members can’t afford to wait.”