VA Warning: Veterans Affairs Services

We received the following warning message from the US Department of Veterans
Affairs.  Please disseminate widely.

Department of Massachusetts Message Center

VA Warning: "Veterans Affairs Services"  Organization Not Affiliated, Getting Vet IDs.

The Office of the Secretary of the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) has requested dissemination of the following :

"An organization called Veterans Affairs Services (VAS) is providing benefit and general information on VA and gathering personal information on veterans.   

"This organization is not affiliated with VA in any way." [The organization described itself at its web page at: http://www.vaservices.or <http://www.vaservices.or/>  g /us/index.html ] "VAS may be gaining access to military personnel through their close resemblance to the VA name and seal. Our Legal Counsel has requested that we coordinate with DoD to inform military installations, particularly mobilization sites, of this group and their lack of affiliation or endorsement by VA to provide any services. In addition, GC requests that if you have any examples of VAS acts that violate chapter 59 of Title 38 United States Code, such as VAS employees assisting veterans in the preparation and presentation of claims for benefits, please
pass any additional information to Mr.Daugherty at the address below.

"Michael G. Daugherty,
Staff Attorney,
Department of Veterans Affairs,
Office of General Counsel

This email was sent by Veterans of Foreign Wars Department of Massachusetts, State House Room 546-1, 24 Beacon Street, Boston, MA