The U.S. Federal Trade Commission issued a Veterans Day warning on November 10, 2026, highlighting how scammers use social media profiles to target veterans with fake grant programs and investment schemes.
How Scammers Target Military Profiles
Scammers examine public social media profiles on platforms like Facebook, Instagram, and TikTok to view military history, promotion photos, and tagged locations. They then message victims about fake veteran grant programs, falsely claiming to work for the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs and directing them to fake websites to steal Social Security numbers or VA.gov login credentials.
The FTC notes that the VA never messages users on social media.
Investment Schemes and Guidance
Fraudsters also use fake profiles and military jargon with flashy video ads promising guaranteed ways to beat the stock market, though the FTC reminds users that investments always carry risk.
To protect against these threats, the FTC advises limiting post and contact visibility through privacy settings, verifying VA offers on VA.gov, and using the VA Accreditation Search Tool. Suspected scams can be reported at VSAFE.gov or by calling 833-38V-SAFE.
What to do
- Limit who can see your posts and contacts by adjusting privacy settings on each social media platform.
- Never let someone met on social media direct your investment decisions.
- Verify any offers for VA benefits through VA.gov and use the VA's Accreditation Search Tool.
- Report scams targeting veterans at VSAFE.gov or by calling 833-38V-SAFE.
Key facts and where they come from
- Scammers use military history and photos from social media profiles to pitch fake veteran grant programs.
Some scammers use what they can see in your profile — like your military history, promotion photos, and tagged locations — to message you about real-sounding (but fake) veteran grant programs.
- The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs never contacts individuals via social media messaging.
(Hint: The VA will never message you on social media.)
- Veterans can report targeted scams online at VSAFE.gov or by calling 833-38V-SAFE.
report it at VSAFE.gov or by calling 833-38V-SAFE.
The catch
- The announcement does not state how many veterans have been targeted by social media grant and investment scams.
- The FTC notes that fraudsters use real-looking but fake websites designed to capture sensitive information like Social Security numbers.
The open question: Can social media platforms effectively block accounts that impersonate government agencies and target specific demographic groups?
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