Military members, veterans, and their families are often regarded as pillars of strength and resilience, yet they face unique vulnerabilities when it comes to identity theft and other forms of fraud. Unfortunately, their service and sacrifices can make them prime targets for scammers seeking to exploit their personal information. Whether actively serving, retired, or supporting a loved one in uniform, the risk of identity theft is a significant concern for those connected to the military. 

These startling statistics highlight the scam and fraud challenges the military community faces: 

  • According to the Federal Trade Commission Annual Data Book of 2023, servicemembers, veterans, and their family members reported more than 93,000 fraud cases to the FTC, including 42,766 imposter scams that reportedly cost them more than $178 million last year. 
  • Retired military members reported $350 million in fraud losses last year to the FTC. This was almost a 20% increase from the year before. 
  • Active-duty service members are 76% more likely than civilians to report misuse of an existing account, like a bank account or credit card, according to mycreditunion.gov.  
  • Active-duty service members are 22% more likely than civilians to report that their stolen information was used to open a new credit card or other account. 
  • Last year, the military community lost $477 million to scams.  

This guide explores why military members are a group more vulnerable to identity theft, offers tips on how to help protect against identity theft, highlights warning signs to watch for, and provides guidance on reporting identity theft if it occurs. 

 

Why Do Scammers Target Military Members? 

Unfortunately, your status as an active or retired military member makes you a target for scammers. Criminals may try to steal your money or personal information and scam you. Military members are popular targets for identity theft for several reasons: 

  • Steady income and/or government benefits are attractive targets for criminals. 
  • Scammers may have the ability to pose as military members or government agencies with a fake military ID card. 
  • Military members move every two to three years on average. Frequent relocations can make it difficult to spot early warning signs of identity theft. 
  • Data breaches at government agencies may lead to the sale of servicemembers’ personal information online. 
  • Military members are accustomed to sharing personal information. The DD214, which contains highly sensitive information, is used to prove military service, and for many years the Department of Defense and Veterans Affairs used Social Security numbers (SSNs) to identify military members. 
  • Military members can be deployed for significant lengths of time, meaning they don’t have immediate access or the ability to review their bank accounts, credit card statements and other financial information. 

 

The Impact of Recent Data Breaches 

Recent data breaches have significantly increased the risk of identity theft for everyone, including members of the military community. The recent National Public Data breach left more than 2.7 billion records exposed for free online. These sensitive records include Social Security numbers, full names, addresses, full names, and birth dates.   

This breach affected the database used for government background checks in the United States, Canada, and the United Kingdom, exposing multiple sensitive data points for nearly every citizen in those nations. With this information readily available to criminals, it’s more important than ever to protect your information. 

Those who have worked hard to improve their credit scores may be at the greatest risk. Scammers often hold onto stolen identities, waiting until the victim’s credit score improves before striking. This tactic allows them to exploit individuals who have made significant strides in their financial lives, causing more damage when they finally commit fraud. 

 

What Can Military Personnel Do to Help Protect Themselves from Identity Theft? 

Here are some steps you can take to help protect yourself from identity theft: 

  • Use strong, unique passwords for every single account you have. Consider using a password manager to safely store your passwords. IdentityIQ provides a password manager tool through Bitdefender® Total Security to store sensitive information and even generate unique, secure passwords.  
  • Enable multifactor authentication for online accounts. 
  • Guard your personal information and be careful of where you share it. 
  • Review your credit reports and dispute inaccurate information with the major credit bureaus. 
  • Sign up for an active-duty alert with the major credit bureaus when you’re deployed. This encourages lenders and creditors to take extra steps to verify your identity before opening an account in your name. 
  • Monitor your bank accounts, credit cards and other financial accounts monthly at minimum. Review the transactions and withdrawals to look for suspicious activity. 

 

What are the Warning Signs of Identity Theft? 

Watch out for common warning signs of identity theft that may indicate you are a victim: 

  • Unfamiliar transactions or withdrawals from your bank account, credit card, and other financial accounts. 
  • False information on your credit report, including accounts you don’t recognize and credit card applications you never submitted. 
  • Bills and other communications from companies you don’t do business with. 
  • Correspondence about credit cards or other accounts you didn’t open. 
  • Collections notices or calls from debt collectors for debts you don’t recognize. 
  • Denials of your credit applications, especially if you thought you had good credit. 
  • Missing mail or emails from companies you do business with. 
  • Inaccuracies on your IRS account or Social Security statement. 

 

How to Report Identity Theft 

If you need to report identity theft, follow these steps: 

  • File a report with your local law enforcement agency. 
  • File an identity theft report with the FTC at IdentityTheft.gov or by calling 877-382-4357. 
  • Freeze your credit with the three major credit bureaus – Equifax®, Experian®, and TransUnion®. 
  • Contact your installation’s Personal Financial Manager (PFM) for free financial advice and Legal Assistance Office for free legal advice. 

 

Bottom Line 

Military service members should regularly check their credit reports, use strong passwords to help protect their online accounts, and be cautious about sharing personal information to safeguard their identity. These steps can help reduce the risk of identity theft and prevent financial damage. 

If you are a member of the military community, you face unique risks when it comes to identity theft and online threats. IdentityIQ offers comprehensive protection for your personal information, privacy, and devices to help you avoid scams and fraud. All-in-one service from IdentityIQ can help you enjoy peace of mind knowing your identity, online activity, and sensitive data are secure. IdentityIQ plans include: 

  • Identity Theft Protection: Receive 24/7 identity monitoring with real-time alerts for possibly suspicious activity, backed by $1 million in identity theft insurance underwritten by AIG. 
  • Privacy and Device Protection: Safeguard your devices with advanced antivirus software and a VPN provided by Bitdefender® Total Security, helping your online activity to remain private and secure. 
  • Password Manager: Securely store your passwords, credit card information, and other sensitive data and easily access them whenever you need. Password Manager also allows you to autofill online forms and even generate unique, secure passwords. 
  • More: IdentityIQ offers a full suite of protection benefits, including dark web and internet monitoring, family protection features, legal assistance tools, and more. 

 

IdentityIQ Military Discount 

Military members, veterans, and their families can get started for just $1/month. Don’t wait—get started today to secure your identity, privacy, and peace of mind.