Know Your Rights

• Free help may be available

  County Veteran Service Officers, accredited Veteran Service Organizations, VA-accredited attorneys, and VA-accredited claims agents may provide assistance at no cost to the veteran for initial claims.

• Be cautious before signing contracts

  Read everything carefully. Take time. Ask someone you trust to review documents before signing.

• Understand who is accredited

  VA accreditation matters. Verify accreditation through the VA's official accreditation search before paying anyone.

• Do not share login credentials

  Never give out VA.gov, ID.me, Login.gov, or banking passwords. Accredited representatives do not need them.

• Keep copies of everything

  Save contracts, emails, text messages, advertisements, invoices, and receipts. They help document patterns.

• Ask questions before paying anyone

  What exactly will you do? What does it cost? What are the refund terms? Get answers in writing.

• Report suspicious practices

  Submitting a report can help other veterans and may help responsible partners act on harmful patterns.

Helpful links

External links are provided for educational purposes. Claim Shark Report is not affiliated with these organizations.

• VA Accreditation Search
• VA Office of General Counsel — Accreditation
• Veterans Crisis Line (988, press 1)
• FTC consumer complaint portal
• Find your State Attorney General
• VFW
• DAV
• The American Legion
• NACVSO (county VSO directory)