A group of consumer advocacy and military support organizations are working together to help protect our nation’s protectors.
July is Military Consumer Protection Month and the Federal Trade Commission (FTC), the Department of Defense, the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, and other groups are highlighting tips and resources to help and protect members of the military and their families.
You can also add TDS to that list.
Here at TDS, we are proud to have many active military members and veterans on staff. We have an active Patriot Associate Resource Group (some of them are in the photo!) that includes both current and prior military service members, as well as first responders and supporting non-service TDS associates.
This month we will be amplifying all of the great information the FTC and the other groups are providing—starting with job scams and money-making schemes.
The FTC says:
If you’re preparing to leave the service, you might be looking at ways to make a living while you’re exploring new career options. Maybe you’ve arrived at a new duty station and your spouse is looking for work. Today we’re talking about how to avoid job scams and bogus money-making schemes. Here are some things to know to sidestep potential pitfalls.
- Scammers advertise jobs and business opportunities online in ads, on job sites, and social media. Search online for the name of the company or the person who’s hiring you, plus the words “scam,” “review,” or “complaint.” You might find out they’ve scammed other people.
- Honest employers, including the federal government, will never ask you to pay to get a job. Anyone who does is a scammer. Honest employers also will never send you a check and then tell you to send them part of the money. That’s a fake check scam.
- Success stories and testimonials might not be true or typical. Glowing stories of success could be fake or misleading, and positive online reviews may have come from made-up profiles.
Take some time to talk to someone you trust about ads for jobs or business opportunity offers. And learn more at ftc.gov/incomescams.
Veterans may find state-level resources to help them find jobs and advice for finding veteran-friendly employers. For example, the Wisconsin Department of Workforce Development created a Vets Ready Employer Initiative that recognizes businesses going above and beyond for the veteran workforce (fun fact: TDS has been named a Gold Level Vets Ready employer two years in a row). These kinds of awards can help you or a loved one identify great, veteran-friendly job opportunities.
For more helpful information visit militaryconsumer.gov.
