Published: November 10, 2025
When everything feels uncertain, knowing where to turn shouldn’t be. That’s why Blue Star Families and our partners in The White Oak Collaborative have been hosting Operation Support: A Virtual Resource Fair webinars. We want you to know about all of the trusted resources available to you, throughout this government shutdown and beyond.
If you want to watch the webinars in full, you can find the first installment here and the second installment here. Over the next couple of weeks, we will break these resources down into more digestible pieces to better help you know where to turn for the support you personally need.
Last week, we spoke with Raun Lazier, Acting Assistant Director of the Office of Servicemember Affairs at the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB), to learn about new scam tactics targeting military and veteran families during the government shutdown. Raun informed us of three key schemes:
- Individuals impersonating federal agencies. These scammers contact you, claiming you need to update a file or resolve an issue with your benefits. Their goal is to obtain your bank details and personal information.
- Scammers posing as friends or family members. These individuals create fake social media profiles and claim to need financial assistance due to the shutdown. Once you engage, they ask for money through links or payment apps.
- Fake shutdown relief programs. Scammers may call or text, claiming that a stimulus account or government relief fund is available. To “access” these benefits, they’ll request your personal information.
Never disclose your personal or financial information to unsolicited callers, messages, or online contacts.
During Operation Support, we also discussed common red flags that military families should watch for, particularly when someone claims to be from a military-oriented agency. Some of these are:
- Anyone who asks for immediate payment (particularly in the form of gift cards or crypto).
- Use of threatening language or harm.
- Any unsolicited requests for personal information or payments.
If you suspect a scam or receive suspicious contact related to pay, benefits, or shutdown assistance, please report it immediately. The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) is closed (as of November 7, 2025) due to the government shutdown; however, you can report fraud or set up active-duty alerts with Equifax for free here.
Veterans: never pay for benefit assistance. Claim sharks may try to charge excessive fees, but legitimate benefit support is always free. You can read more about the fraud crisis and how to protect yourself here. You can also submit a complaint about a financial product or service with the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB). Finally, our partners at AARP also offer the AARP Fraud Watch Network, a free resource available to everyone.
Remember: if it sounds too good to be true, it probably is. For more resources, check out our Government Shutdown Resource Hub. We’re in this together.
Posted In: Government Shutdown