Greg's Corner

Malware attack targets veterans

Most online scams and attacks tend to target vulnerable groups of people such as the elderly, low-income families, and those in desperate need of a home. This new attack is no different, however, it’s targeting a group of people who have not only served their country but often find themselves needing resources more so than many other members of society. We’re of course talking about military veterans. Some of them are dealing with enough problems without having to deal with scammers and other bad actors but unfortunately, there are always people looking to take advantage of a bad situation.

A number of internet security firms have reported that there is a malware attack floating around that targets veterans who are looking for employment. The veterans are lured to a site that resembles one run by the US Chamber of Commerce that is supposed to help veterans find work. Instead, this phony website infects the user’s computer with malware that is designed to steal personal that’s kept on the device. While it has not been determined what specific information is being stolen one can imagine the myriad of scams that information could be used for especially when it concerns someone who may be receiving government benefits or assistance. Sadly, this isn’t the only scam that targets veterans.

[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ryjbgmD4Z2o%5D

Another scam that veterans should be on the lookout for is the benefit buyout scam as shown in the video above. There are also scams promising refinancing on VA loans with bogus promises of low rates along with phishing attacks from phony emails that appear to be from the VA. That’s in addition to employment scams that are identical to the ones civilians fall prey to but in this case, they are specifically targeted at vets. If an offer sounds too good to be true it is recommended that you check with your local VA office for additional information.