Congressman Ken Calvert has introduced the Veterans Scam and Fraud Evasion (VSAFE) Act, designated as H.R. 1663, to create a dedicated position at the Department of Veteran Affairs (VA) focused on protecting veterans from scams and fraud.
"Through their service and sacrifice, our veterans had our backs. Now, we must have theirs by protecting them from scams and fraud," stated Rep. Calvert. He emphasized that "the VSAFE Act will ensure the VA has a centralized effort to coordinate and oversee its scam and fraud prevention activities." The congressman highlighted the increasing sophistication of scams as a reason for establishing an effective resource within the Veterans Department.
A report from the Federal Trade Commission revealed that U.S. veterans and military retirees reported $350 million in total fraud losses in 2023. The VSAFE Act aims to address this issue by creating a Veterans Scam and Fraud Evasion Officer at the VA, who will be responsible for all fraud prevention efforts. This initiative seeks to provide veterans with consistent guidance on identifying, reporting, and avoiding fraudulent activities.