Veterans Choice Program (VCP) Scam - +1 800 606 8198

In USA, the Department of Veterans’ Affairs (DVA) has announced a scam concerning its VCP telephone line (or Veterans’ Choice Program.) The legit VCP tel no is +1 866 606 8198. Scammers have opened a fake VCP hotline on a similar number +1 800 606 8198. Any veterans who call the fake hotline are pressured to provide credit card details and they then become victims of fraud and/or identity theft.

800-606-8198
+1 800 606 8198
8006068198
(800) 606-8198

http://www.aarp.org/money/scams-fraud/i ... am-fd.html

VA Warns Vets: Beware of Impostor Hotline:
Eligible veterans already enrolled in the Veterans Affairs (VA) health care program can elect to receive medical treatment in their own communities through the Veterans Choice Program (VCP). But now a scam phone line has popped up, possibly trying to defraud vets seeking more information about this option.

The VA is warning vets to beware of this fraudulent phone number posing as the VCP helpline: 800-606-8198.

The correct VCP helpline, 1-866-606-8198 toll-free, provides information on requirements and eligibility for the program, among other services. The imposter phone line may be intended to reach vets who inadvertently dial the VCP number incorrectly.

Callers will know they have reached the wrong number when:

The phone line offers callers a $100 rebate if the caller provides a credit card.

The phone line does not state the caller has reached U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs or VCP phone line.

Callers should note that operators on this scam phone line might incorrectly state that callers have reached the VCP if asked.

The Veterans Health Administration Office of Community Care (VHA CC) has reported the “mimic” line to the VA Office of Inspector General for a possible civil or criminal investigation.

Additional VCP Resources

In addition to the phone line, veterans may visit: https://www.va.gov/opa/choiceact/ for more information about the program. VCP eligibility requirements include:

Not being able to get an appointment at your local VA medical facility within 30 days;

Your current residence is more than 40 miles from the closest VA medical facility;You need to travel by air, boat or ferry to the VA medical facility closest to your home; and

You are faced with an excessive burden due to traveling to the closest VA medical facility based on geographic challenges, environmental factors, a medical or other specific factors as determined by your clinician.

Additional eligibility information is available at the correct VCP phone line 1-866-606-8198 toll-free. If you are unsure if you have reached the correct phone line, VHA CC recommends hanging up and dialing 1-866-606-8198 toll-free again. The phone line will state that the caller has reached the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs.

Unfortunately, scammers frequently target veterans and their families. Vets should also be on guard against requests for personal or financial information, including Social Security and driver’s license numbers and bank or credit accounts, in unsolicited phone calls.

http://www.blogs.va.gov/VAntage/37881/a ... ram-users/

Attention Veterans: Imposter phone line attempting to access credit card information from Choice Program users
Veterans Choice Program phone number is 1-866-606-8198

VA is taking action in response to a phone line that appears to be set up to take advantage of Veterans who misdial the Veterans Choice Program phone line.

The two phone lines differ only in area code. The correct Choice Program phone line is 1-866-606-8198, while the imposter phone line is using 1-800-606-8198. The fake line does not provide information on the Choice Program or its eligibility criteria, instead it claims to offer callers a $100 rebate if they provide a credit card number.

VA would never ask Veterans for this information or offer this type of financial incentive through the Choice Program phone line. This potential attempt to impersonate VA’s Veterans Choice Program phone line is being taken very seriously. VA is acting to ensure Veterans are not exploited by getting the word out and also by working with the Office of Inspector General to take legal action and ultimately shut the fake line down.

Veterans can tell if they have reached the correct phone line, if the phone line automatically states the caller has reached the “U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs.” Please note, the fake line will incorrectly confirm callers have reached the “Veterans Choice Program” if the caller asks this question. If Veterans are unsure if they have reached the correct phone line, they should hang up and make sure they dial 1-866-606-8198 correctly.

Please do not hesitate to call the Veterans Choice phone line at 1-866-606-8198 to ask questions about the program and determine if you are eligible. More information on the Veterans Choice Program can also be found here.

In addition, the VA Identity Safety Service offers a toll-free identity theft help line to Veterans and their beneficiaries who believe that they are at risk for identity theft. The number is 1-855-578-5492, and it operates Monday through Friday, from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. EST with voicemail for after-hours calls. Any calls pertaining directly to VA data are referred to VA staff and investigated accordingly. Find out more about how you can protect yourself from identity theft at VA’s More Than A Number: Identity Theft Protection website.