DETROIT, MI — National Consumer Protection Week (NCPW) runs March 3 to March 9, 2019. This year, the focus is on veterans as the U. S. Postal Inspection Service and the AARP Fraud Watch Network continue to promote Operation Protect Veterans, a joint national campaign that highlights vet-related scams and fraud schemes.

“The Postal Service and the Inspection Service are playing an important role by drawing attention to vet-related scams and fraud schemes,” said District Manager Karlett Gilbert, Detroit, MI. “As the most trusted government agency, and a leading employer of veterans, consumers have a high confidence in the mail and expect the Postal Service to protect the privacy of their personal information.”

Representatives from the Postal Inspection Service and the U. S. Postal Service will be at the George W. Young Post Office, 1401 W. Fort St., Detroit, MI on Friday, March 8 from 10:00 A.M. until 2:00 P.M. in a local outreach effort to help veterans. They will also have brochures and speak with consumers to offer tips and information about consumer fraud, identity theft and other fraud schemes.

Research shows that veterans are frequently targeted by scam artists and victimized twice as often as the rest of the public. “The goal of Operation Protect Veterans is to leverage the combined reach and communications capabilities of the Postal Service, U.S. Postal Inspection Service, and the AARP Fraud Watch Network to help veterans avoid losing money to con artists,” said Gilbert. “These crimes take a toll, both financially and emotionally. Financial exploitation can seriously affect the lives of veterans and their families.”

To date, the campaign has received responses from over 12,000 former or current members of the military who described scams directed towards their military benefits or that sought to take advantage of their affinity for veterans’ issues.

For more information about Operation Protect Veterans, we encourage Postal Service employees and their families to use the following resources:

• The U.S. Postal Inspection Service website: postalinspectors.uspis.gov/.  
• The AARP free helpline staffed by AARP volunteers trained in Fraud counseling: 877-908-3360.
• The AARP website: action.aarp.org/site/SPageNavigator/FWN_OperationProtectVeterans.html.

The Postal Service receives no tax dollars for operating expenses and relies on the sale of postage, products and services to fund its operations.

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