How to Check if a Soldier is Real

Are They Asking for Money?

Any so-called soldier asking for your money is scamming you. They might ask you for R&R money for travel so you can be together, but you should know that soldiers have travel benefits courtesy of the Information, Tickets, and Travel office. The office pays for R&R or emergency travel costs. Any alleged soldier claiming to need travel money is lying.

Other scammers might ask you to send money to pay bills or make a loan. Or, they could ask for your bank details because they claim to have no access to their bank account. This should be an immediate red flag because soldiers have free internet access and should be able to make any online transaction. Never give so-called soldiers money for any reason.

Do They Have an Official Email Address and Physical Address?

All military members have an Army Post Office (APO) address where they can receive mail. If they claim that they cannot receive care packages instead of money because they have no physical address, they are lying.

Soldiers should also have an email address that ends in .mil. If the alleged soldier you are speaking to cannot provide this verified email address, they are not a real soldier.

Do They Have Any Close Relatives?

Scammers who pose as soldiers might appeal to your sympathy by claiming to have no family left. They use this tactic to get money out of you. You must remain skeptical when they claim that all of their close family and friends are dead. Despite the reality of tragic events, it’s hardly believable for a soldier to have zero connections.

Military programs exist to take care of their soldiers on active duty. Soldiers are well-taken care of and have several official connections to turn to. Do not fall for fake soldier sympathy tactics.

Are They Asking for Your Request To Get Leave?

Fake soldiers might ask for you to contact their commander or sign something. They do this to get your signature. Many military spouses have shared that their partner in the military has never needed their signature for anything while on duty. Be careful when giving sensitive information to strangers.

Do They Have a High Rank That Does Not Match Their Age?

Real soldiers who have reached general status must have been in service for at least 20 years. Claims of being a high-ranking officer under 30 years old are blatant lies. If they pass the age test, you still have to be cautious. They shouldn’t ask for money because generals usually earn $10,000 a month.

Verify a Soldier’s Identity with Social Catfish

Social Catfish can help you check if a soldier is real or verify whether the person you’re talking to is telling you the truth about their identity. All you need to do is go on their website and reverse search their name, email address, phone number, social media username, or image to see who you are really talking to.

If you believe that you’re getting scammed by fake military personnel, report them to the Internet Crime Complaint Center (IC3) and the Federal Trade Commission (FTC). Be smart and stay safe when speaking to so-called soldiers online!