{"id":73000,"date":"2023-07-26T14:00:00","date_gmt":"2023-07-26T14:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/airforcetimes\/uncategorized\/2023\/07\/26\/scammers-who-target-veterans-could-face-extra-prison-time\/"},"modified":"2026-08-08T15:16:28","modified_gmt":"2026-08-08T15:16:28","slug":"scammers-who-target-veterans-could-face-extra-prison-time","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/airforcetimes\/news\/pentagon-congress\/2023\/07\/26\/scammers-who-target-veterans-could-face-extra-prison-time\/","title":{"rendered":"Scammers who target veterans could face extra prison time"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

A pair of senators wants new criminal penalties for scammers who prey on veterans<\/a>, arguing the punishment is needed to discourage would-be wrongdoers from targeting individuals who have already sacrificed for their country.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Veterans Protection from Fraud Act \u2014 introduced by Sens. Catherine Cortez Masto<\/a>, D-Nev., and Ted Budd<\/a>, R-N.C., on Wednesday \u2014 would add up to 10 more years in prison for individuals convicted of mail fraud and similar crimes<\/a> when the victim is a veteran. In many cases, that could double the sentence already allowed under federal law.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cNevada veterans have put their lives on the line for this country, and we must do everything we can to stop scams targeting them,\u201d Cortez Masto said in a statement. \u201cMy bipartisan bill strengthens penalties for fraud against veterans and makes it more difficult for criminals to target them.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Last year, individuals filed nearly 93,000 federal fraud complaints connected to their veterans benefits or veterans status, totaling more than $164 million. The senators behind the measure said they are concerned that veterans are becoming more of a target following recent congressional efforts to boost the availability of benefits options for veterans.<\/p>\n\n\n\t