House Passes Calvert Bill to Protect Veterans from Scams and Fraud

Today, the House of Representatives passed H.R. 1663, the Veterans Scam and Fraud Evasion (VSAFE) Act, which was introduced by Congressman Ken Calvert (CA-41) last year. The bill will establish a Veterans Scam and Fraud Evasion Officer at the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA).

“We owe it to our veterans to protect them from scams and fraud that could cause serious financial and personal hardship,” said Rep. Calvert. “The VSAFE Act will make sure the VA has the tools it needs to prioritize the coordination of its scam and fraud prevention activities. I thank my House colleagues for standing with me to have the backs of our veterans.”

According to a report from the Federal Trade Commission, U.S. veterans and military retirees reported $350 million in total fraud losses in 2023. While a number of departments and staff work in an uncoordinated manner to combat fraud within the VA and other agencies, the VSAFE Act will establish a comprehensive effort that will assist our veterans by establishing a Veterans Scam and Fraud Evasion Officer in the Department of Veterans Affairs who is responsible for all fraud prevention efforts. By providing veterans with more consistent guidance on how to identify, report, and avoid fraud and scam attempts, we can reduce their occurrence and protect their hard-earned benefits.