A con artist continues preying on the generosity of sympathetic veterans, managing to bilk numerous VFW Posts around the country out of as much as $400 each by posing as either a veteran who has “filled out an application” to join a specific Post or as a current VFW member.
The scammer has used a couple of different approaches when he calls a Post asking for a specific Post Officer by name for financial assistance, usually alleging to be experiencing some sort of car trouble and has even gone as far as to claim to be the parent of an Iraq veteran on his “way to the funeral for his son killed in Iraq.” He has also used a bogus story about how he recently visited a Post while introducing his son, “just back from Iraq” to various Post members. The swindler apparently goes on-line beforehand and obtains information about the Post in order to include details about the Post to help lend credibility to his story. He has been known to use several different aliases, such as “Michael, Marvin, and Mark Sharp.”
According to information received by VFW national headquarters, VFW Posts in AL, OK, WV, TX, FL, KS, MI and MO have responded by wiring money to the man who promises to repay the cash as soon as he returns home. So far, the sum being requested is in the $200- $500 range. Western Union doesn’t require identification for sums under $1000.
Any Post that believes they have been scammed should contact the local authorities and media. Remember to always be cautious when approached with requests for money.