AVOIDING CLAIM SHARK COMPANIES PREYING ON DISABLED VETERANS
Because navigating the VA claims process is notoriously frustrating, the idea of hiring a consultant or coach to guide you as you seek benefits or otherwise manage your eligibility may seem tempting. Unfortunately, so many individuals and companies claiming to be claims experts are fronts for what amounts to “lawful fraud” that Congress is stepping into address this scourge.
If you need help claiming benefits with the Department of Veterans Affairs, it’s important to seek guidance and support from reputable legal professionals who are licensed by the state. Call the trusted legal team at Capovilla & Williams at 866-951-0466 or contact us online to learn about our verifiable qualifications and record of client-focused success.
How Are Claim Sharks Targeting Disabled Veterans?
There was a time when corrupt would-be profiteers needed to sell an ineffectual physical product to unsuspecting consumers in order to make a quick buck. Nowadays, technology is facilitating widespread efforts to unjustly capitalize on the needs of deserving people. The so-called “snake oil salesmen” of bygone days helped to inspire the first meaningful waves of consumer protection legislation. Nowadays, Congress is being called upon to halt the relatively legal practices of claim shark scam companies that try to pick the hard-earned benefits of disabled Veterans out of their pockets, oftentimes via email, text, calls, and other electronic forms of mass communication.
For example, a recently introduced bipartisan bill in the House would prohibit entities from utilizing auto-dialers to call the Department of Veterans Affairs and other federal agencies. This effort was inspired by a 2025 NPR investigation into a Florida company that uncovered an auto-dialer scheme. The company would call into the VA, tap into its benefits monitoring system, and send bills to Veterans whose eligibility had recently led to a benefits increase. The company insists that it wasn’t technically doing anything wrong, because no federal law specifically prohibits this kind of targeting… yet.
There is also another bill under consideration in the House that would prohibit for-profit claims consulting across the U.S. This bill is arguably even more necessary than the auto-dialer bill, because companies seeking to prey on disabled Veterans do not stop at the use of dodgy auto-dialers. The VA itself recently released a warning to Veterans that the following tactics are being used regularly to target them and their benefits:
- Direct deposit/payment redirect fraud
- Fake calls and emails “from” the VA
- Fake compensation claims assistance offers
- Pension poaching
- Phishing attacks
Notably, there is a competing House bill under consideration that would formally legitimize for-profit claims consulting and allow for fee arrangements of up to $12,500 per claim. The passage of this bill – instead of the ban on this “industry” – would make it even harder for Veterans to get the disability benefits that they need and deserve. Passing this proposed legislation would inevitably make it tougher to distinguish reputable law firms offering legitimate services from companies empowered to take money from Veterans unapologetically while offering very little, if anything, in return.
Seeking Trustworthy Legal Guidance and Support
Veterans entitled to disability benefits deserve personalized, knowledgeable support focused on their needs, not the base desires of their representatives. Hopefully, Congress will act soon to shore up protections for Veterans. Regardless, reputable help is always available.
The dedicated legal team at Capovilla & Williams has earned a reputation on behalf of our clients that speaks for itself. We defend VA disability matters at no out-of-pocket costs to our clients, and it would be our privilege to defend your claim as well. Tell us about your situation today by calling 866-951-0466 or connecting with our team online to learn more. We look forward to working with you.
