Check Your Six: Deceptive Ads That Target Military Members

It’s no secret that scammers follow the money. U.S. service members earn a steady income and, after they leave the service, many receive benefits through government programs. Unfortunately, this makes them a prime target for scammers. But it’s not just government and other types of imposter scams that military members and veterans need to watch out for.

In observance of Military Consumer Month, TINA.org has compiled a list of deceptive ads aimed at service members and veterans that have come across our radar.

Neurolumen

In a brochure that found its way into a room where a group of disabled veterans had gathered, Neurolumen claimed via a customer testimonial that its medical device treated the symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), a condition that disproportionately affects military members. The brochure also featured a fibromyalgia testimonial from a Vietnam War veteran. All of this, despite the fact that the device had not been approved by the FDA for the treatment of any disease or disorder (as required by law) and the indications for use in the company’s application to the FDA did not mention any diseases or disorders.

Arise

Just this month, the FTC reached a $7 million settlement with Arise for misleading consumers about the money they could make as a gig worker on the company’s platform. Following the settlement announcement, TINA.org found that Arise pitches its “economic opportunity” to several “underserved communities,” including military families and veterans.

T-Mobile

In 2018, TINA.org received a complaint from a consumer who said he was denied T-Mobile’s ONE Military plan because he was a veteran, not an active duty service member. (T-Mobile disputed this in response to an inquiry by TINA.org.) But then, TINA.org dug a little deeper and found that even if the consumer was eligible for the military plan and switched from his current T-Mobile plan, he would not come close to achieving the 50 percent savings touted in the company’s ad.

USAA

For years, USAA has claimed to offer insurance products “for the military community and their families.” But qualifying for coverage is not as simple as USAA makes it sound in its ads. It’s not enough that you have a family member who serves or has served in the military. That family member must also be a current or former USAA member.

PICKUP

For those who wanted to support people who have reentered the workforce after serving in the military, PICKUP seemed like a great option. The delivery app said it only hired drivers that are “good guys,” which it limited to veterans and firefighters. But that wasn’t exactly true. According to the company’s own terms of service, only some of the “good guys” it hired as drivers were veterans and firefighters. Following an inquiry by TINA.org, PICKUP implemented marketing changes to make clear that its drivers include veterans, among other “good guys.”

If you are a service member, you should know that you have some unique consumer protections provided by federal law. Additional resources can be found here.