I’m sad to have to post this but I have decided it is a necessity!
As we all know there are hundreds or more likely thousands of non profit organizations that have been created to offer support to our servicemembers and wounded veterans, some are great and some others are not so great. There are also other organizations (and their employees) that are getting rich by raising funds on the premise that they are helping our Nation’s wounded. Recent congressional testimonies and reports and in the media, have shown that there are organizations using the tragedies of our wounded to raise money and yet there are questions as to whether these donated funds are being used for purpose they were intended.

BUT even worse than those stories is I have recently been informed about another type of scam and I want to make you all aware to be leery of wolves in sheep’s clothing. These are individuals who may approach you with seemingly angel’s wings, yet are really scam artists. They are the lowest of lows who are reading the news papers, watching the news, and searching the internet to find our wounded and offer their services, as if they want to help. What they are really looking for is a way to prey on our veterans and their families, while lining their own pockets.

Without trying to outline every scenario or give particular details I’d like to just remind each one of you that; not everyone is who they say they are, not everyone will do what they say they will, and there are some very unscrupulous and dishonest people who will try to take advantage of our wounded veterans (and their families) if given the opportunity………and they are damn good at it!

So here is some of my motherly advice:

1. Always keep in mind that “volunteers” are just that, volunteers! They should NEVER expect to be paid for their services.
2. If someone contacts you and says “I’m with such and such organization” check with the organization headquarters, and assure the person actually works for or with them. Please know that anyone can get business cards printed!
3. Never be rushed or pressured into a decision of any kind. If your intuition raises red flags about someone, pay attention; but by the same token don't let yourself skip important details because someone seems so completely charming or sincere.
4. Always beware of someone who solicits you - and never let anyone pressure you by creating fear about your situation or the future.
5. Your best defense is to work with people and organizations that have been recommended to you by someone you trust. But if you have to choose to work with someone else, you can always do it tomorrow; in the mean time stop and think quietly, check them out fully, and consult with someone you can trust before making any decision.

Additionally here are some more hints, particularly if you are hiring a contractor or accepting volunteers, to do adaptive alterations to a home. (I used the term “hire”, but keep in mind I am also including accepting help from volunteers.)

• FIRST AND FOREMOST: Make sure you know the VA’s Home Improvement Regulations!
• Never hire someone who just knocks on your door or contacts you one day, even if he or she says they "are working in the area," or “heard about your situation and wants to help” or "has some materials left over from a job nearby." Door-to-door sales are possibly the most frequent method for scams, and these lines particularly are classic come-ons.
• Never hire someone or accept help from volunteers, unless you are absolutely sure each person is honest with their intentions. These people will have access to you, the veteran, and very often allot of personal information and/or personal effects.
• Never give anyone money, a blank check or credit cards to buy supplies or “get you something at a discount”, either go with them to pay for the items or reimburse them for submitted PAID receipts.
• Never hire anyone whose business name and address you cannot verify in public records. An unscrupulous contractor will often operate under numerous names which are never registered, so he or she cannot be tracked down. A post-office box, rather than a street address, is another warning sign of an itinerant operation.
• Never take membership in the Better Business Bureau as your sole assurance of legitimacy. Dishonest contractors will often make a big point of their membership in the BBB, which can be no more than a cheaply-purchased veneer of respectability. The BBB has no teeth to help you if you have a problem with a dishonest contractor, who will get a new business name and re-register with the BBB as soon as things get too sticky under his current name.
• Never hire anyone whose references you haven't checked. Obviously, if he can't even provide you with references, steer clear.
• Never hire a company or person that tells you your job can get a discount if they can use it as a "demonstration project" or anything like that. A good, established contractor has no trouble pointing to past jobs which people have been willing to pay full price for.
• Never yield to pressure to agree quickly to a deal, for any reason. Not because "the price is only good for today," not because "this is the last chance you'll get" and not because you’re in a rush to bring your veteran home. Haste makes more than waste- in many cases it can make much grief. If a contractor cannot make this price available next week, how much chance is there he will be around the week after if there are problems with the work?
• Never hire any one who offers an impossibly long guarantee. This is an indication of insincere intentions, and may even be a ploy to distract you from scrutinizing other things you should be questioning.
• Never sign any document unless you have read it thoroughly and understand it completely. Never sign any document which has blank spaces to be filled in later. If the contractor pressures you to sign anyway, brushing aside your concerns or belittling your caution, show him the door. Never hesitate to ask for time to consult a lawyer, a knowledgeable friend or your bank about what you are about to sign. Objections to this are a sure sign of a crook.
• Never sign for a home equity loan unless you know you can make the payments. Defaulting on the loan may allow the lender to seize your home- this may be the actual purpose of a scam artist. Always shop a loan around, comparing rates and terms.
• Never pay for a job up front. Your contractor, and your money, are apt to disappear tomorrow. (There may be some exceptions to this- seasonal contracts like snow clearing or yard maintenance, but be absolutely sure you have checked references and credentials first.)
• Never agree to pay cash under the table. You must have a signed contract, and valid receipts for all payments. Otherwise, if there are ever any problems, you have no proof of who did the work and no proof you paid them for it.
• Never hire anyone who insists that you get the required building permits. This is probably a sign he is trying to stay out of sight, possibly because he is operating without a required license. (Picking up the permits yourself may save you money, but this should be your choice entirely.) By the same token, never hire anyone who says he will do the work without a required building permit. This could get you into a pile of legal and financial problems bigger than your house.
• Never contract with anyone you are uncomfortable with for any reason. If he is impatient or bullying, is reluctant to answer questions or does so only vaguely, does not respect your time, your intelligence, your wishes or concerns, find somebody else.