How to Verify a Military Person's Authenticity: Tips and Techniques
With the rise of online scams, it's crucial to ensure that the military personnel you interact with are genuine. Amy Winn's technique of asking them to send a photo of themselves in uniform, sticking out their tongue, and holding up three fingers, is a popular method. This photo request is a quick and effective way to weed out false identities. When the real deal is an ex-military member or someone who has served, they are likely knowledgeable about military procedures, which can be leveraged in discriminatory questioning.
Key Verification Steps
Aside from photo checks, there are several methods to verify a person's military authenticity:
Selfie Request
In addition to the photo request, you can ask for a selfie, but it must be a strict 'snap and send' scenario. The soldier must take a photo within a five-minute limit to ensure it's not edited. The selfie should include their face and something military, such as a boot and a soda can or dogtags and a fork. If the soldier fails to complete the task within the time limit or questions it more than twice, they are likely a scammer.
Questioning with Military Knowledge
Ask specific questions that only a military person would know. Questions related to military procedures, equipment, or culture should be used to gauge the authenticity of the applicant. Any civilian with limited military knowledge would struggle to answer such questions accurately.
Contact History and Connection Verification
Be wary of any interactions where the person approached you via the internet without any prior connection, such as being the cousin of your best friend. This is a major red flag. If you discover that the person has a history of fraud, look them up in legal databases or watchlists to learn more about their background.
Case Study: A Failed Scam Attempt
Here's an example of a real-life scam attempt that was caught: A woman contacted someone via Facebook, claiming to be stationed in California but having to deploy to Africa. She asked for money and provided a convoluted explanation about why her US government wasn't paying her. This suspicious behavior, combined with her fabricated backstory, highlighted her fraudulent intentions. Further investigation revealed that she was on the Department of Justice’s watch list. The example demonstrates the importance of being vigilant and researching potential scammers before engaging with them.
The article above outlines practical, easy-to-follow steps to avoid being a victim of a military scam. By being informed and knowledgeable about the signs of fake soldiers, you can protect yourself and avoid falling into the trap set by unscrupulous individuals.