MONROE - Green County veterans affairs officials are warning veterans about a scam that could make its way in to the area.
Veterans have recently become targets for consultants who claim they can help the veterans and their families with aid benefits.
Green County Veterans Service Office Committee Chairman Mike Furgal said the consultants are linked directly to a team of lawyers, financial planners and insurance companies.
Furgal said they uses catch phrases such as "free of charge" to steer veterans toward the consultant's legal and financial teammates to offer them other products at a substantial cost.
"There is a growing number of so called 'veterans benefits consultants' coming out of the woodwork," Furgal said.
Green County Veterans Service Officer Keith Ingwell, said the consultants try to get money, and veterans end up losing their money as a result.
He said it mostly happens with veterans who are in nursing homes.
"They tell the veterans they can make them money but they end up taking all of the veteran's benefits," Ingwell said.
Somehow, Furgal said, the companies get the names of veterans to contact.
They don't get the names from the Veterans Service office, Ingwell said.
"We don't give out of information about the veterans," he said.
These consultants haven't reached Green County, but it's something veterans should be aware of, Ingwell added.
Furgal encouraged veterans and their families to contact Ingwell at 328-9415, if they have any questions about their veteran or dependent benefits.
Veterans have recently become targets for consultants who claim they can help the veterans and their families with aid benefits.
Green County Veterans Service Office Committee Chairman Mike Furgal said the consultants are linked directly to a team of lawyers, financial planners and insurance companies.
Furgal said they uses catch phrases such as "free of charge" to steer veterans toward the consultant's legal and financial teammates to offer them other products at a substantial cost.
"There is a growing number of so called 'veterans benefits consultants' coming out of the woodwork," Furgal said.
Green County Veterans Service Officer Keith Ingwell, said the consultants try to get money, and veterans end up losing their money as a result.
He said it mostly happens with veterans who are in nursing homes.
"They tell the veterans they can make them money but they end up taking all of the veteran's benefits," Ingwell said.
Somehow, Furgal said, the companies get the names of veterans to contact.
They don't get the names from the Veterans Service office, Ingwell said.
"We don't give out of information about the veterans," he said.
These consultants haven't reached Green County, but it's something veterans should be aware of, Ingwell added.
Furgal encouraged veterans and their families to contact Ingwell at 328-9415, if they have any questions about their veteran or dependent benefits.