Veterans and service members preparing to leave the military are being warned about scammers targeting them as they apply for Department of Veterans Affairs benefits. The Federal Trade Commission says veterans should be wary of unexpected calls, texts or emails from people contacting them about t heir veterans benefits. Scammers may claim to work for the VA or say they are approved by the agency. They may offer to help veterans apply for benefits they are supposedly missing, secure a 100% disability rating or speed up the claims process — all for a fee. The VA will never charge veterans to apply for benefits. Accredited representatives and recognized veteran service organizations also will not charge veterans to apply. Veterans should never pay to apply online and should make sure they are applying directly to the VA. Scammers may guarantee that a veteran will receive benefits or claim they can help someone skip the line. Even accredited representatives cannot make those promises. For veterans who want assistance, the VA has a search tool that can be used to check whether a representative is accredited by the agency. There are also third-party companies and attorneys that offer, for a fee, to help veterans increase their existing benefits. Veterans considering those services should weigh the pros and cons before signing up because they can be costly and receive mixed reviews online. This story was originally reported for broadcast by NBC San Diego. AI tools helped convert the story to a digital article, and an NBC San Diego journalist edited the article for publication. ...read more read less