SAN ANTONIO – A new telephone scam targeting veterans making decisions about their medical care is making the rounds, the Federal Trade Commission warns.
The Department of Veterans Affairs has set up a new, toll-free number for veterans and their families to ask questions about the VA’s Veterans Choice Program, which allows "certain eligible vets to use health care providers who are outside of the VA system.”
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Vets can call the VCP’s toll-free number to verify their eligibility for the program.
But scammers are using a fake telephone number that is very similar to the real VCP number. The message on the phony line says the veteran is entitled to a rebate if you provide a credit card number.
However, the VA — nor any government agency — will never ask for your financial account information.
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The scammers will use the credit card information to take advantage of the caller, perhaps even stealing their identity.
The real number for the Veterans Choice Program is 866-606-8198.
If you’re not sure if you’ve reach the real VCP, do not give out any personal information. Instead, hang up, check the VCP’s official government website — it will end in .gov — and try again.
For more information, click HERE for the official website for the Veterans choice program or call the OFFICIAL number: 866-606-8198
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