Scam appears to target Guard families

The Idaho National Guard is providing the following information to soldiers, airmen and their families about a particular scam.

"We have evidence that there have been other attempts to scam our family members, said Lt. Col. Tim Marsano, State of Idaho Military Division/Idaho National Guard Public Affairs Officer.

During the past few days, there have been attempts by a person or persons unknown, who have contacted families of deployed soldiers representing themselves as Points of Contact for the Idaho National Guard.

It may be possible that these persons may say they represent the Army. They have tried to solicit Social Security numbers or other information about deployed soldiers by stating that the soldier was injured or that the soldier was missing. Part of the routine has been to say that there is more than one soldier with that name, and they are contacting the family to verify the social security number, etc., to make sure they are contacting the right person.

"This is a blatant scam in an attempt of identity theft, or to cause undue hardship for families," said Marsano. "Make sure your family and everyone else knows that any information concerning injuries or missing status are verified by the Military without telephone calls to families or requests for Social Security Numbers.

"Should you or any of your personnel or families be contacted, become immediately suspicious. Do not verify any Social Security numbers or personal information."

Ask for the telephone number and name of the individual and report this through the chain of command or contact the Family Support Group or Joint Operations Center (JOC) in Boise (JOC: Commercial 208-422-5755 or DSN 422-5755).