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Consumer Advocate: Scammers Prey On Veterans During Memorial Day

By Brad Segall

NORRISTOWN, Pa. (CBS) - As we head into another Memorial Day weekend and remember the men and women who gave their lives fighting for our freedom, consumer advocates say this is a big weekend for veterans to be targeted by scams.

Consumer advocates say the scams not only target veterans and their families but calls go out this weekend from organizations that claim the money you donate will be funneled to causes that assist members of the military.

Director of Bucks County's Consumer Protection Department Mike Bannon says it's an emotional weekend and scammers use that to prey on those who can be vulnerable.

"Some of the scams that we see happen from folks that recently come back from service are housing scams and rental scams and we even have job search scams for veterans. It's very sad."

His best advice: don't engage them in conversation on the phone for a long time and never give out personal information.

If you have any doubts about who is calling, Bannon suggests using the website MilitaryOneSource.mil to check them out.

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