received a mailer from a law firm saying they can get me $ 1949 tax free if I am a veteran and a senior citize?

You are responsible for your own decisions. You need to make sure that following up on this will not get you into a world of hurt--say with identity theft.

But there are things you can do that should give you a little bit more information to help you make up your mind...

First of all--go into your search engine on the internet, and type in the firm's name and the city, that it lists on the mailer. Do you get any information at all? If you can find information on this firm, then read each link thoroughly--find out if they are legitimate.

Go to the yellow pages and see what typing in their name and city will get. Does the phone company have a listing for them?

Next, call the Better Business Bureau and ask if there is any information on this company. The BBB will be able to tell you if there are complaints about this company--or whether there is no data.

If you are not able to find any indication that the company exists at all--then this is a scam and should be disregarded.

If the company exists, but has a bad reputation with the BBB, then don't do business with them.

If the company exists, and has a reputable ranking with the BBB, then you can make a decision to either treat with them, or to find out about the $1949 benefit another way...as through VA like you have already been advised.

What you should never do is to blindly hand over control of your life or your benefits to a third party you neither know, or know to trust.

1.) Check the bar association to verify the credentials of this "law firm."

Make sure whoever is mentioned in the material they sent to you is registered with the state bar association. If you don't know how to do that in your state, call the police non-emergency number. Ask them for the local prosecutor's telephone number. The prosecutor will tell you how to verify someone's status with the state bar association. While you have the prosecutor on the telephone, ask him or her if you can come in to show the prosecutor what was mailed to you.

2.) In all frankness and with no undue disrespect to the people who mailed the material to you, BS usually comes with unverifiable details or no details at all. If the mailing mostly talked about how great the benefits will be for you, BUT did not ever really tell you exactly what the benefits are, you likely are the intended target of a ripoff.

3.) If this is an honest offer, which I doubt, you should have to pay ZERO money before you get money from the so-called "benefits." If the bastar.. I mean if the "people" are legitimate, then they might want a contract signed, but NO MONEY unless service is rendered. If you are pressured at all to "sign today or lose the opportunity" you can rest assured that these people are thieving scum. If you live in the state of Florida, please contact the state attorney's office (that's what they call the prosecutor in Florida) to ask about this. Florida has extra tough laws against abusing senior citizens physically, mentally OR ECONOMICALLY.

4.) Thank you for serving the country. I can sit here in peace giving you this answer because of men who did what you did. Drafted or volunteer, you served, and your service was a great gift to the nation. I pray that you live in peace and happiness the rest of your life.

5.) I hate to seem so skeptical,

but this just sounds like a scam to me.

I suspect you have learned over the last 83 years how to tell the difference between

Shinola and another familiar brown substance.

I suspect this deal is not Shinola.

No indeed, I suspect this deal stinks.

Peace be with you.

EDIT: Be especially firm about providing NO detailed personal information, especially your social security number or your driver license number. Identity theft is a big problem with people your age.

I don't think that would be a good idea.

My brother and I are looking into War Era Vets for my father who is also 83.

There is absolutely no charge for their services. They are a private organization dedicated to the betterment of War Era Veterans.

The Alliance Team Founder has made it his mission to make certain that every War Era Veteran and/or Surviving Spouse of a War Era Veteran who is eligible learns about the program and has the opportunity to apply for the benefits.

War Era Veterans Alliance Team can be located throughout the Country.

The Alliance Team currently conducts workshops each and every week.

Call 1.800.901.0940 for more information regarding an Workshops in your area.

Here is the website........

http://wareravet.com/

http://wareravet.com/education.html

So don't drive 100 miles until you investigate other means. I hope this helps.

Thank you for your years of service!

God Bless you.

What is RT ? Call the phone number and ask them. Dont drive that far because it is probably promotion of some kind. That is an odd amount and they cannot possibly know what amount you may be entitled to. Look at the VA website or Social Security website. It may have something to do with a reverse mortgage on your home. I would never reply to an unsolicited offer like that.

No, easily you're actually not purely right. in case you get an merchandise loose or at a discounted value using fact of a discount (or the punch taking part in cards such as you had) in maximum states sales tax is due on the completed value. yet 6% of $4 is barely 24 cents, so as that would desire to have been what she charged you except there is a few interior of reach sales tax to account for the different 6 cents.

I saw it on TV today and they said that many veterans did not believe it to be true, but evidently it is if you overstayed the time you were supposed to stay in a foreign country, which I am sure you did. My brother was lost at sea in that War. I am glad to meet up with another veteran of that War! Hope you get some money out of them. My brother was 23 and single, so Mother got $40.00 a month for her son's life. Go get it!

It could be any of a number of versions of this old veteran benefit scam.

http://www.snopes.com/inboxer/hoaxes/veterans.asp

The point being that they have a special, inside track to get your benefits quicker if you apply through them.

And all they are really doing is gathering your identity information.

Some cons want to meet the veterans to get a good visual estimate of how quickly they think you might "kick the bucket" so that they can start selling your social security number or identity without you tracking it & filing complaints. Because knowing your entry & discharge dates will make them look very knowing about who they claim to be. I wouldn't even show my ID to them just so they can be "sure they are talking to the right person."

Tell them it may be "little known" but it's illegal to NOT reveal benefits inquired about.

They may produce legal looking documents about the benefit, but keep in mind that the one talked abut in the article has been over for 50 years.

You'd do better consulting real benefits on these sites:

http://www.vba.va.gov/VBA/

http://www.vba.va.gov/bln/21/

http://www.military.com/benefits/veteran-benefits/...

As the saying goes, "If it seems too good to be true, it probably is." So many of these scams are geared towards the Senior Citizens, because unfortunately, they are easy prey. Why? It's because they are trusting souls. It's a shame that scammers get away with bilking Seniors out of the nest egg they've put away for themselves.

My dad gets a monthly check as a vet of WWII but he got it from the Veteran's Administration when we went through them to get his hearing checked. They saw he'd never applied for benefits so the lady did it for him. It wouldn't hurt to take your flier to the VA and ask them about this, then they can check your records and make sure you are getting the benefits you have coming.

Roger, when something sounds too good to be true, it is. Don't fall for this scam. Unfortunately, senior citizens are the biggest targets of crooks. We were raised in a more honest time, and we wat to believe the best of everyone else. I'm sorry, but there are a lot of crooks in the world today. They know just how to appeal to a person's needs. Don't get involved in this.