Officials warn of scam targeting veterans’ pensions

In this scam, criminals pose as attorneys or financial advisers and offer to assist a veteran with pension allocations.

In this scam, criminals pose as attorneys or financial advisers and offer to assist a veteran with pension allocations.

Paulding County sheriff’s officials are warning of a scam that targets veterans’ pensions and may also cause the victims to lose Medicaid eligibility.

In this scam, criminals posing as attorneys or financial advisers offer to assist a veteran with pension allocations, Sgt. Ashley Henson said.

The scammers will try to convince the veteran to put assets into trust accounts or to make investments into certain insurance products, Henson said. The veteran is told the asset reallocation will allow the person to qualify for aid and attendance benefits.

This is not true, Henson said.

“Be sure to tell all the retired veterans you know of this scam to keep them from being victimized,” Henson said.

“Be aware that the veterans benefits application process is a free service. There is never a fee to apply, and there are many organizations that can assist with the completion of this often lengthy and complicated paperwork.”

Anyone with questions or who may have been a victim of this scam can contact sheriff’s officials at (770) 443-3015.