Call 4 Action: Military Money E-Mail Is Scam

Watch Out, Says Veterans' Services Director

POSTED: 5:33 pm EDT July 22, 2008

UPDATED: 5:56 pm EDT July 22, 2008

PITTSBURGH -- An old scam with a new twist is counting on people who want to help men and women in uniform, Call 4 Action reporter Aaron Saykin said.

Many viewers have e-mailed Call 4 Action about an e-mail they got, which they think is an attempt to exploit the military and rip people off.

Someone is sending e-mails posing as a service member in the war zone, using names like Capt. Jeffery Simpson, Lt. Col. Alan Foster or Ssg. Shelby Cross.

In the e-mail, they say they've come across funds belonging to "deceased terrorists" and would like your help to "evacuate the money."

Saykin reported that it's a ploy to get banking information and account numbers.

The Allegheny County Department of Veterans' Services said this is one of several military-related scams to surface recently.

"It's really a shame that someone would stoop that low to try to take advantage by using the military," said the department's director, Ron Conley.

Other e-mails may ask for donations to send care packages to troops overseas. What they really want are your credit card or bank account numbers, Saykin said.

If you get a request to help service members overseas, and you're not sure if it's legitimate, you can check with the Department of Veterans Services at (412) 621-4357.

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