The Trusted Scout: Tips to Protect Your Hard Earned Military Money! The BBB Military Line is for You.

December 2012 l Volume II l Issue 22

IN THIS MONTH'S EDITION

Tips to Protect Your Hard Earned Military Money! The BBB Military Line is for You.

DOD Releases Revised Tuition Assistance Memorandum of Understanding

How to Avoid Getting Caught in a Military-Targeted Scam

Text Message Gift Card Scam is Back for the Holidays

Picture of the Month

U.S. Army Capt. Shawn Basinger conducts training with local Afghans in Farah City in Afghanistan's Farah province, Dec. 1, 2012. Basinger, a veterinarian, is assigned to the 438th Medical Detachment Veterinary Services. U.S. Navy photo by Lt. j.g. Matthew Stroup

SPONSOR SPOTLIGHT

BBB Military Line greatly appreciates support from the USO of Metropolitan Washington. This support makes our efforts on behalf of military consumers possible. Thank You!

Special Thanks to Our Sponsors

SCAM ALERTS!

Internet Romance Scams Use Soldiers' Identities

Special agents from the Army Criminal Investigation Command are once again warning Internet users worldwide to be extra vigilant and not to fall prey to Internet scams or impersonation fraud -- especially scams promising true love, but only end up breaking hearts and bank accounts.

How to Avoid Getting Caught in a Military-Targeted Scam

It seems like holidays bring out both the good and the bad in people. Servicemembers, their families and veterans are a favorite target for scammers. The Better Business Bureau recently released a list of scams directed against servicemembers, and it's a good idea to review these so you can be on guard against them.

MILITARY CONSUMER

ISSUES & INITIATIVES

Tips to Protect Your Hard Earned Military Money! The BBB Military Line is for You.

Do not give away your hard earned military cash! You served. You or your soldier, airmen, marine, sailor or coastie served in a high threat environment to bring in the bacon and now an unethical business or person wants to take it from you.

DOD Releases Revised Tuition Assistance Memorandum of Understanding

The Department of Defense (DoD) released a revised Tuition Assistance Memorandum of Understanding (TA MOU) today, which includes input from universities and reflects many of the president's Principles of Excellence.

Pentagon Helps Troops Move into Civilian Life

The Pentagon is launching an effort to prepare servicemembers for life after the military even as they begin training and serving as combat troops.

Are Servicemembers Over Compensated?

Growth in military pay has exceeded civilian wages over the last ten years, but does that mean they are overpaid?

According to the Congressional Budget Office, growth in military compensation has exceeded private-sector wages by more than 25 percent over the last ten years.

2013 TSP Contribution Limits

Planning ahead? You know I am always planning ahead, at least when it comes to finances. (Don't look in my laundry room.) The 2013 Thrift Savings Plan (TSP) contribution limits have been announced, and it has gotten me thinking about how much money we can really afford to put into TSP.

WHO WE SERVE

U.S. Marine Corps Staff Sgt. Stephen Cameron, left, salutes former Navy Petty Officer 1st Class Paul Goodyear, a Pearl Harbor survivor, before presenting a wreath on behalf of the Marine Corps during a Dec. 7, 2012, remembrance ceremony at the World War II Valor in the Pacific National Monument in Hawaii. DOD photo by U.S. Air Force Tech. Sgt. Michael R. Holzworth

SCAM ALERTS Continued...

Text Message Gift Card Scam is Back for the Holidays

The gift card text message scam is back with a vengeance this holiday shopping season. Shoppers across the country are reporting receiving spam text messages, called smishing, saying they won pricey gift card.

Exclusive: More SC Taxpayers Hit in Big Hack

COLUMBIA, SC - The number of taxpayers affected by the massive data hacking at the state Department of Revenue has risen by 200,000 to 3.8 million, S.C. officials told The State Tuesday.

Another BBB Phishing Scam. Don't Bite!

Phishing scams look like legitimate email, and they are getting more sophisticated every day. What these con artists are really after is your banking and financial information. And they won't mind destroying your computer to get it.

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.