Avoiding predatory practices

Have you ever spent money on a service only to realize it was offered for free? For example, paying to file a student loan application with a non-government site when it is free to file on the official FAFSA website? These types of practices may not be illegal scams, but they can prey on unsuspecting people and cause them to pay unnecessary fees.

One form of this type of practice particularly impacts Veterans and families: websites that charge for access to VA forms or other materials that are readily available free of charge on the VA website.

In addition to charging an unnecessary fee, these forms may also be outdated, requiring Veterans and their families to waste time completing the form again after it is submitted to VA.

To avoid this type of predatory practice, it is important to review websites and resources for accuracy. When searching for VA or other government materials, keep in mind:

• Safe search engine practices: If you are utilizing a search engine (e.g., Google, Bing, or similar), the first items at the top of your search may have paid to appear there! The first item in a search result may not be the best one.
• Evaluate the URL: For government-related forms or resources, ensure the website contains .gov at the end of the URL.
• Utilize search tools available on government sites: Instead of searching for materials through a search engine, use the search feature on government sites. Websites like www.va.gov have a search feature to assist Veterans and their families quickly reach the right resources.
• Report predatory practices: In order to ensure others do not fall victim to predatory practices, report any predatory practices or suspicious activity you experience.

Remember: Veterans or their families seeking materials or claim-filing assistance should not be charged as these are provided for free through VA and Veteran Service Organizations (VSOs). To better protect yourself, please review these important and helpful resources:

• For VA related forms: https://www.va.gov/find-forms/.
• Information on government imposters and scams: https://www.usa.gov/imposter-scams.
• Information on how to make a report with VA's Accreditation, Discipline, & Fees Program Office: https://www.va.gov/ogc/accreditation.asp.
• To report imposter websites to the Federal Trade Commission (FTC), go to https://reportfraud.ftc.gov/.