RALEIGH —  Veterans are being warned by state officials about scams involving companies that require payments for processing pension and benefits forms, the North Carolina  Division of Veterans Affairs said today.
“We have become aware of so-called ‘pension poachers’ who are targeting veterans through seminars and other seemingly innocent outreach,” said Tim Wipperman, North Carolina assistant secretary for veterans affairs. “This is an abhorrent practice and often includes questionable insurance or investment products. We are working with partner agencies to get the word out. There is no reason for a qualified veteran to pay a company to receive benefits they have earned through their service.”
District service officers are available in all 100 counties to assist veterans with necessary paperwork. To find a local office, visit http://www.doa.nc.gov/vets/locations/.
The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs also has a website for those seeking accredited services available to veterans. For information, visit http://www.va.gov/ogc/apps/accreditation/index.asp.