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January 2012, VOL II, Issue 11
In This Month's Issue

 3 Strategies to Make Your New Year's Resolutions Stick 

 

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Sgt. Donald Christensen, an explosive ordnance disposal technician with Company C, Battalion Landing Team 1st Battalion, 4th Marines, 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit, moves into position as helicopters prepare to land during Marine Expeditionary Unit Exercise at Okinawa, Japan, on Jan. 12, 2012

SCAM ALERTS!  

 

BBB Names Top Ten Scams of 2011

Better Business Bureau investigates thousands of scams every year, from the latest gimmicks to schemes as old as the hills. Our new Scam Source is a comprehensive resource on scam investigations from BBBs around the country, with tips from BBB, law enforcement and others. You can sign up to receive our Scam Alerts by email, and you can also be a scam detective yourself by reporting scams you've discovered.   

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Star-Spangled Rip-Off: Why Military Car Buyers Are Vulnerable to Bad Deals   

Men and women in the armed forces put their lives on the line for our country and many businesses show their appreciation by offering military discounts. But some car salesmen that actively solicit military members and loudly praise their service nevertheless target them for rip-offs, frauds and overcharges.  

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Phishing Scams Target Military, Families, VeteransPhishing  

Anyone who gets caught by phishing scams loses money, time and security. Phishing is usually an unsolicited email that prompts an action, such as divulging secure information, downloading potentially dangerous files, or sending money to an unknown source.   

 

A recent aggressive phishing attack is making the rounds in an email to USAA members, which appears be from USAA, a financial services company that serves service members, their families, and veterans. The email subject begins with "Deposit Posted."
Editor's Note: "The Trusted Scout," is here to serve you. Have a suggestion? Contact us here. We hope you enjoy!
MILITARY CONSUMER
ISSUES & INITIATIVES

12 Tips to Help Military Families Avoid Financial Rip-Offs   

Dean Taylor, a 71-year-old marathon runner, smiles sweetly to a classroom of U.S. Air Force trainees and dangles a carrot before their eyes.

  

Win a new iPod Shuffle, she says. All you have to do is fill out a form listing your name, Social Security number, address and telephone number.

  

There are about 30 men and women in the class at Lackland Air Force Base in San Antonio. Nearly all take the bait and eagerly give up their personal data.  

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3 Strategies to Make Your New Year's Resolutions Stick Strategies 

We're rolling into the new year with high hopes that 2012 will be a great one. We've already drafted our list of "money must-do's" and encourage you to do the same. However, making that list is a far cry from seeing it  

through.  

 

In fact, some surveys indicate more than 90% of resolutions fall by the wayside. We'll spare you the details, but that's been our experience, too. With that in mind, this year we've come up with three practical tips to help your resolutions become reality. 

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Troops Coming Home from Iraq to Navigate Financial Land Mines 

The thousands of soldiers coming home this month from Iraq should prepare for one more fight -- over their finances. Experts in the issues facing military families say the next few months will present money challenges to returning service members. More than 12,000 troops returned this month from Iraq as the war drew to a close.
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Dempsey: No Retirement Overhaul Anytime Soon 

The Defense Department's highest-ranking officer said changes to the military retirement system are unlikely anytime soon and today's troops can expect to be grandfathered under the current rules.

 

Army Gen. Martin Dempsey, chairman of the Joint Chiefs, said retirement reform has been "pushed to the side of the table," and he expects a blue-ribbon commission to take a long look at the issue before any changes are made.  

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Best Veteran Employers: A Top-35 List

What makes an employer a top veteran employer? Depending on who you ask, and what factors you use, you'll get a bunch of different answers. Below is one list, the "35 Most Valuable Employers for Military," compiled by Civilian Job News, which took a look at a variety of companies, both large and small, over different industries. Included with each listing below are links to more information about veteran hiring, as well as current Monster.com job postings for those companies (where available).

Read More  


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U.S. Air Force Academy cadets with the Air Force Wings of Blue Parachute Competition Team perform at the U.S. Parachuting Association's national championships in Eloy, Ariz., on Nov. 3, 2011. The "Air Force Intrepid" competition team took first place in the four-person intermediate free-flying event.
As a partner in the Joining Forces Initiative and DOD Financial Readiness Campaign, BBB Military Line brings BBB consumer education and services to military personnel (including Reservists and National Guard), retirees, DoD civilians, and their families.