July is Military Consumer Protection Month, and the Wisconsin Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection is reminding servicemembers, veterans, and military families to stay alert for scams and identity theft.
According to the Federal Trade Commission, military consumers filed more than 117,000 fraud reports nationwide in 2025, with a median financial loss of $650.
Officials say imposter scams were the most common, costing victims more than $249 million. Investment scams caused the highest individual losses, with a median loss of $10,000.
DATCP urges military consumers to avoid clicking links in unsolicited messages, never share personal information unless necessary, be wary of urgent requests for money or information, and never send money to strangers using gift cards, wire transfers, or payment apps.
Officials also encourage military families to protect themselves from identity theft by monitoring financial accounts and considering fraud alerts or security freezes on their credit reports.
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