Red Cross warns of identity theft scheme targeting military spouses

By Steve Birmingham, as published in the South County Journal, the South Side Journal and the Southwest County Journal .

Military spouses are being warned to beware of anyone calling to inform them their spouse has been injured in the line of duty.

It's a scam to obtain personal information as part of an identity theft scheme, the American Red Cross says. Only the U.S. Department of Defense notifies family members of military casualties.

According to Stephen Hall of the American Red Cross, a family recently received a telephone call from someone identifying herself as a representative of the American Red Cross.

The caller, who was described as young sounding with an American accent, said that the spouse's husband was hurt while on duty in Iraq and was evacuated to a hospital in Germany.

The caller then said medical treatment could not be started until paperwork was completed, and to start the paperwork they needed the spouse to verify her husband's Social Security number and date of birth.

Hall said that in this instance, the spouse, who would not agree to be interviewed, was quick to catch on and did not provide any information to the caller.

Hall called it an "isolated incident," but said that having this happen to one family was "one family too many."

"We wanted to get the word out that this had occurred and to clarify the role of the Red Cross as a communication link in delivering emergency messages to deployed military members on behalf of their families," Hall said.

American Red Cross representatives typically do not contact military members or dependents directly and almost always go through military channels, Hall said.

"We want to remind people that anytime they get these types of phone calls, the Red Cross will never call someone," Hall said. "The only time we would follow up with a military family is if it is a follow-up to a case initiated by the family.

"The Red Cross does not report casualty information, that's the role of the Department of Defense," Hall said. "That's the other red flag that it is not a legitimate call. We encourage people that if there is ever any question whatsoever to hang up and call the Red Cross directly. That way they know who they are speaking to."

Families can report such calls to their local Family Readiness Group or Military Personnel Flight, Hall said.

Military family members are urged not to give out any personal information over the phone if contacted by unknown or unverified individuals, including confirmation that a spouse is deployed.

Hall said it is a federal crime, punishable by up to five years in prison, for a person to falsely or fraudulently pretend to be a member of, or an agent for, the American National Red Cross for the purpose of soliciting, collecting, or receiving money or material.

For more information about Red Cross Armed Forces Emergency Services, please contact the St. Louis Area Chapter at 314.516.2800 or www.redcrossstl.org.