
July is Military Consumer Protection Month, and military personnel make great sacrifices for this country.
While most Americans are grateful for their service, unfortunately, military consumers are often targeted by scammers and identity thieves who take advantage of the military community’s unique culture and circumstances, resulting in losses exceeding $584 million in 2024 according to the Federal Trade Commission (FTC).
Last year, there were more than 99,000 reports of fraud and 38,000 reports of identity theft filed with the FTC by military consumers including active duty servicemembers, veterans and retirees, reserve and National Guard personnel, and military spouses and dependents.
Military consumers lost a median amount of $700 to fraud, compared to the general population’s median loss of less than $500.
DATCP Secretary Randy Romanski encourages “all military consumers to file a complaint with DATCP’s Bureau of Consumer Protection if they are targeted by a scam or believe they have been scammed. Identity theft is especially important to report quickly, as time is of the essence to make sure our team can help someone secure and recover control of their identity.”
Complaints can be filed at ComsumerProtection.wi.gov, by calling (800) 422-7128, or by sending an email to DATCPHotline@wisconsin.gov.