TALLAHASSEE, Fla.—In recognition of Military Family Appreciation Month, Attorney General Ashley Moody is highlighting resources to help veterans, service members, and their families avoid scams. The Federal Trade Commission's 2023 Consumer Sentinel Network report revealed that military veterans and families lost approximately $477 million to fraud nationwide last year.
Attorney General Moody stated, “Our service members risk their lives to defend our country, and their families carry the burden of holding things down at home while their soldiers are away. The last thing they need are scammers trying to exploit the service of their heroes. In recognition of National Military Family Appreciation Month, we are highlighting free resources available to the families of Florida service members to help them spot and avoid scams designed to exploit military service.”
The Military Consumer Protection Resource Guide provides assistance specifically for Florida service members and veterans. It includes information on common military-related scams and guidance on laws offering specific protections for military personnel.
Additionally, the Military and Veterans Assistance Program (MVAP) educates military members, veterans, and their families about scams targeting the military community. MVAP team members work directly with those affected to resolve consumer protection issues. Since 2019, MVAP has recovered nearly $3.7 million for service members.
For legal advice on civil matters, the Florida Veterans Legal Helpline is available for eligible military veterans and families in Florida. The helpline employs VA-accredited attorneys and can be reached at 1(866) 486-6161.
Attorney General Moody’s "Scams at a Glance: Protect Our Patriots" offers education on common military-related scams. Scams targeting this community can be reported by calling 1(866) 9NO-SCAM or visiting MyFloridaLegal.com.