November 11, 2026 - OAKLAND — In honor of Veterans Day, California Attorney General Rob Bonta on Tuesday reminded veterans and their families to be wary of possible scams and fraud, including by predatory individuals or companies who exploit veterans seeking assistance by accessing their benefits. Unaccredited claims representatives, referred to as “claim sharks,” use tactics such as promising faster claims or guaranteed benefit increases. These individuals and companies are not accredited by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) and operate beyond the protections and oversight of official VA regulations and their claim systems.  

“On Veterans Day we remember and honor our veterans and their families and reflect on their significant sacrifices and contributions. Honoring our heroes means working to protect them from claim sharks and other predatory practices that target veterans,” said Attorney General Bonta. “Whether a person claims to be VA-accredited, or an offer sounds too good to be true, I urge Californians to triple check every offer and seek assistance from reliable and accredited channels when in doubt.”

Receiving Reliable Assistance

Remember, you don’t need to pay for assistance with an initial benefits claim. Beware of claim sharks promising a faster claims process or guaranteed benefit increases. SB 694, championed by Attorney General Bonta, among other things, prohibits the charging of fees that exceed what a VA-accredited attorney or claims agent can legally charge to represent a veteran with a benefits claim.

California veterans who need assistance with filing an initial claim for benefits can receive assistance at no charge from their county veteran service office, working in partnership with the California Department of Veterans Affairs, an accredited veterans organization, or from another VA accredited representative. Attorneys and claims agents with current VA accreditation can also represent veterans before the VA and assist with benefit claims. Accredited representatives — including attorneys and claims agents certified by the VA — have passed exams, undergone background checks, and completed ongoing training to ensure they can assist veterans. The fees that VA-accredited attorneys and agents can charge are capped by law, and they are subject to discipline — including revocation of their accreditation — if they don’t represent their clients competently and in accordance with the law.  

Common Scams Targeting Veterans

Whether it is a scammer pretending to be from the VA, or using veterans service organization seals to gain your trust, protect yourself by staying up to date on common scams targeting veterans:

• Home Loan Scams: Be aware of scammers that — through phone calls or mailers — claim to be affiliated with the government, VA, or your mortgage servicer. These fraudsters may attempt to convince you to agree to loan modifications, refinance your home, or make payments to your loans via untraceable money orders or gift cards. Be cautious of any individual or lender that: contacts you and asks you to pay fees upfront before receiving any services; tells you to cancel your mortgage payment and resend the funds elsewhere; tells you to make payments to someone other than your current loan servicer; or pressures you to sign papers you haven’t had a chance to read thoroughly or that you don’t understand — including asking you to sign over the title of your property.
• Never give out personal information to a lender or servicer that contacts you out of the blue. If you are feeling unsure, hang up and call your loan servicer directly at the number that is listed on your mortgage statement. Report suspicious activity to the California Attorney General at oag.ca.gov/report and file a complaint with the Federal Trade Commission at reportfraud.ftc.gov.
• Identity Theft and Fraud: Some scammers will pretend to be from the Department of Defense, VA, or other official organizations to get your personal information so that they can commit identity theft or fraud. Before you provide any information, always make sure a request is coming from an official organization by doing a quick search on the internet. Never trust the contact information given by the person that is asking for your personal information, as scammers often give out fake contact information. Be wary of letters and emails that have misspellings, look unprofessional, or send you to a non-government website for information or action, as these are almost always fake. Never give out your Social Security number to get military or veteran discounts. 
• In the event that your identity is stolen, put a fraud alert on your credit report by contacting the three main credit reporting agencies Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion, and consider requesting a credit freeze, which will make it difficult for identity thieves to open new accounts in your name. Report identity theft right away and get a recovery plan at identitytheft.gov. File a police report with your local sheriff or police department and keep a copy for your records.
• Pension Scams: Veterans age 65 and over are targeted by financial advisers persuading them to buy costly annuities, transfer their assets into trusts, or to pay unnecessary fees for help with a veteran’s pension application. These advisers claim to help veterans qualify for Aid and Attendance or other veteran’s benefits but may cause them to lose eligibility or access to pension or health benefits. Only the VA can award benefits. If you are interested in Aid and Attendance benefits, get free help from your County Veterans Service Office.
• Affinity Fraud: Some scammers pose as fellow veterans or service members in order to appear trustworthy. Companies may use military-sounding names, military or veterans service organization seals, or other patriotic symbols in order to gain your trust. They may also advertise in military newspapers or magazines, use pictures of service members, or hire salespeople with a military background. Don’t be pressured into buying anything before you have a chance to shop around and do your research.
• Predatory Schools: The GI Bill and other military education programs offer veterans and their families a chance to attend school and further their education. Predatory schools often use high-pressure sales calls to try to get servicemembers and veterans to sign up. Always ask for information about the programs such as graduation rates, job placement and graduate salary information; take as much time as you need when making a decision. If a school can’t provide this basic information, they could be hiding something. For information on California’s public universities and community colleges, go to www.universityofcalifornia.edu, www.calstate.edu, or www.cccco.edu.

If you believe you have been the victim or target of a scam, immediately contact your local police department and file a complaint with the Office of the Attorney General. For additional information on scams that target veterans, visit our website.

Source: CA. DOJ