Military Consumer Protection: Equipping Service Providers to Protect Those Who Serve

Written by: Kristen Jowers, M.S., Madeline Spencer, & Nichole Huff, Ph.D., CFLE

Military Consumer Protection Month is an opportunity to spotlight fraud, scams, and identity theft targeting military families, who continue to be prime targets for fraudsters. According to the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (2026), military consumers reported $584 million in fraud losses in 2024. This breaks down to more than 99,000 fraud reports and 38,000 identity theft reports submitted, with a median loss of $700 per instance. These losses often exceed those experienced by the general population, which underscores the value of making consumer protection an essential component of military financial education.

Why Military Families Are Vulnerable

Military life presents unique circumstances that scammers exploit. Frequent relocations, deployments, transitions to civilian life, and the need to make quick financial decisions can create opportunities for fraud. Scammers often impersonate trusted organizations, exploit military affiliations, or target individuals during periods of change and uncertainty.

The most commonly reported scams affecting military consumers include:

Imposter scams, where criminals pretend to represent government agencies, financial institutions, military organizations, or trusted companies.
Online shopping scams involving fake websites, counterfeit products, or goods that never arrive.
Business and job opportunity fraud, which often targets military spouses, transitioning service members, and veterans seeking employment or entrepreneurial opportunities.

As technology evolves, fraud schemes continue to become more sophisticated, making prevention and education more important than ever.

The Service Provider’s Role in Consumer Protection

Military family service providers are uniquely positioned to help clients recognize and avoid scams before damage occurs. Whether working as a personal financial manager, counselor, educator, extension professional, or family support staff, providers can incorporate consumer protection into routine client interactions.

Consider the following strategies:

Integrate Scam Awareness into Financial Counseling. Consumer protection should be a regular part of financial conversations. Ask clients if they have recently received suspicious emails, text messages, phone calls, or social media messages. Discuss common scam tactics and encourage skepticism when unsolicited offers or urgent requests are received.
Promote Credit Monitoring and Identity Protection. Regular monitoring of credit reports and financial accounts can help identify suspicious activity early. Encourage clients to review their credit reports, monitor account activity, and safeguard personal information.
Discuss Fraud Risks During Deployments and Transitions. Deployments, permanent change of station (PCS) moves, and military-to-civilian transitions often create opportunities for scammers. Include fraud prevention discussions as part of deployment preparation, relocation planning, and transition assistance programs.
Share Trusted Resources. One of the most valuable services providers can offer is connecting clients with reliable, evidence-based information. Fortunately, several federal agencies, such as the Office of Military Compensation and Financial Readiness and the Federal Trade Commission, have developed high-quality resources specifically designed for military consumers, as noted below.

Resources to Share with Military Families

FINRED Consumer Protection Resources

The Office of Military Compensation and Financial Readiness (FINRED) offers several resources that can be incorporated into financial education and counseling sessions:

Consumer Credit Video Series
Understanding Consumer Protections
Reduce Your Risk of Identity Theft
Spot the Warning Signs of Identity Theft
Operation: Monitor Your Credit
Identity Protection Conversation Guide

These tools provide practical information that can help military consumers build strong financial habits while protecting themselves from fraud.

Federal Trade Commission (FTC) Resources

The FTC provides free educational materials and reporting tools that can support consumer protection efforts:

ReportFraud.ftc.gov for reporting scams and fraud
Free printed consumer education materials available for order
Military Consumer Blog updates on emerging scams and fraud trends

These Military Consumer blogs can help service providers discuss current threats with their clients with practical examples.

Military Consumer Resources

The FTC’s Military Consumer website offers a variety of educational materials designed specifically for military-connected audiences, including:

Military Consumer Partner Toolkit
Military Consumer Month Digital Toolkit
Consumer alerts and educational content
Outreach materials for organizations supporting military families

These resources can be used during workshops, financial education programs, social media campaigns, and community outreach events.

Veteran Scam and Fraud Evasion (VSAFE)

The Veteran Scam and Fraud Evasion (VSAFE) initiative serves as a one-stop resource for scam and fraud prevention education. The site (https://vsafe.gov/) includes educational materials, prevention tips, and information tailored to veterans and military families.

Professional Development Opportunity

For service providers looking to strengthen their knowledge of military consumer protection, OneOp’s on-demand webinar, Military Consumer Protection in Action: Tools and Tactics for Service Providers, provides practical strategies and trusted resources to help military-connected consumers identify scams, avoid fraud, and protect against identity theft.

The webinar explores common threats targeting military families and highlights actionable tools professionals can use to support informed consumer decision-making. The on-demand recording is available for those seeking to expand their consumer protection knowledge and better support military-connected clients.

References

Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (2026). Annual financial literacy report. https://files.consumerfinance.gov/f/documents/cfpb_flar-2025-report_2026-05.pdf

Miller, T. (2026, July 7). Military Consumer Protection in Action: Tools and Tactics for Service Providers. OneOp. https://oneop.org/learn/160134/

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