Unfortunately, some educational institutions and programs use misleading practices and overpromise their degrees’ value and earning power. Without knowing the warning signs to protect yourself, this could lead to a depletion of your education benefits.
VA wants to ensure Veterans are informed when using their G.I. Bill benefits and to help them make the best education decisions. We encourage Veterans and their beneficiaries to know these education fraud warning signs and the best practices to avoid falling victim to a scam.
What are the types of scams targeting your education benefits?
- Job scams. Job Boards or Advertisements targeting specific demographics may be misleading or fake and require you to give personal information or money to get a job. You can find free, official information about federal jobs at USAJOBS.gov, FedsHiresVets.gov, and CareerOneStop.org. Your state’s Department of Labor may have job listings, contacts for local job offices, and resources for counseling and referrals.
- Student loan scams. Educational institutions may promise immediate student loan forgiveness or debt cancellation to entice Veterans to enroll in classes. For most borrowers, loan forgiveness is only available through programs requiring many years of qualifying payments or other qualifying criteria. Here is a list of Student Debt Relief “Do’s and Don’ts” to help borrowers avoid scams.
- Scholarship scams. Educational institutions may “guarantee” Veterans a scholarship in exchange for a redemption/processing fee.
- Seminars. Veterans may be promised a scholarship and financial aid under the guise of high-pressure sales pitches where they feel pressured to pay a fee immediately or risk losing the so-called “opportunity.”
- Free gifts. Veterans may be promised incentives such as free laptops, gift cards or other “freebies” for enrolling in courses.
How can you protect your education benefits?
- Choose G.I. Bill approved schools. Use the WEAMS Institution Search Tool to find G.I. Bill approved schools.
- Use the G.I. Bill Comparison Tool. Compare the benefits you’ll receive at different schools.
- Learn about the Principles of Excellence Program. This program requires schools that receive federal funding through programs such as the G.I. Bill to follow certain guidelines.
- Check out the National Resource Directory Database. This database provides validated resources that support recovery, rehabilitation and reintegration for service members, Veterans, family members and caregivers. Scammers may try to appear legitimate by using official sounding names, logos, websites or showcasing a false affiliation with VA.
- Find schools that take part in the Yellow Ribbon Program, which can help you pay for school costs not covered by the Post-9/11 G.I. Bill.
VA recognizes the importance of professional growth and training for a meaningful career after your service to your country. If you suspect you are a victim of fraud, please contact the VA Office of Inspector General at VAOIG Hotline. You may also file a complaint with the Federal Trade Commission by visiting reportfraud.ftc.gov. If you miss a VA benefits payment, identify a discrepancy in payments, or find suspicious activity with your direct deposit account, contact VA immediately at 1-800-827-1000.
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Thank you for all the great information. I have a comment regarding the Post 911 GI Bill. The Post 91 GI Bill was passed after I retired and said, I can’t transfer my Post 911 GI Bill benefit to my children because it has to be done while I’m active. The eligibility is 15 years starting from the date of discharged from active service for certain veterans based on the year of entering and discharging for the Arm forces. I am asking for a consideration to some changes for us who retired in 20 or more years of service. I still have some months of eligibility left for Post 911 GI Bill, but the 15 years’ time limit was passed bases on the date of my retirement. Please, advocate for a change to the Post 911 GI Bill for us that served 20 or more years in the Arm forces…… Thank you.
ROFL … WHAT G.I. Bill benefits ! ! ! … those of us from the OLD Viet Nam era (what used to be the Montgomery G.I. Bill) were stabbed in the back by the politicians of this country … when it was done away with at the start or end of 1989, I am not completely sure which date it was) … like when any vet who tried to get his G.I. Bill education benefits he found that they no longer existed, or that depending on when he got out of the active military he had 5 years to use them or lose them … and NONE OF US WERE EVER TOLD ABOUT THAT ……………. yeah, thank you American politicians AND the completely worthless Veterans Administration ! ! !