As we honor those who have served our country, scammers go to great lengths to steal from them.

Many criminals will pretend to be former military to ingratiate themselves, knowing veterans trust fellow veterans.

Read on for how to spot and avoid those who seek to steal from you.

How It Works

•Employment offers for veterans: Special offers for those who have served.

•Cash for benefits: Cash upfront in exchange for future disability or pension payments.

•Donations for veterans: Raising money for fake charities under the guise of helping active-duty military or veteran causes.

•Rental discounts: Special prices on rental properties just for active-duty military and veterans.

What You Should Know

• Job postings looking for you to supply sensitive personal information or pay something upfront are outright scams.

•Offers for cash in exchange for future disability or pension payments are typically worth only a fraction of the value of the benefit.

• Sham charities line their pockets with millions raised under false pretenses, often using names similar to well-known and trusted charities.

• Any rental offer that you can’t see before renting or seeks a nontraditional payment method upfront - cash, wire transfer, payment app or gift card - is likely fraudulent.

What You Should Do

•Walk away from any job opportunity that seeks sensitive information as part of the application process, or when you are told to pay something upfront.

•Only work with VA-accredited representatives when dealing with VA benefits. You can search for them online at the VA Office of General Counsel website.

•Check out charities through websites such as give.org or charitynavigator.org before donating to a cause.

•You should always be able to see a home or apartment before you rent it - if you are told otherwise, disengage. Same goes for payment method - disengage if the form of payment is not typical.

Knowledge gives you power over scams.

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Editor’s note: The AARP Fraud Watch Network equips you with reliable, up-to-date insights and connects you to their free fraud helpline so you can better protect yourself and loved ones.

AARP also advocates at the state, federal and local levels to enact policy changes to protect consumers and enforce laws.