Is The American War Library a scam or fraud?

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Posted by Jim on Apr 1, 2008 243 views

US Veterans be wary. When you come across The American War Library http://www.amervets.com you see a long list of links and web resources. One of the items they provide is information to help you determine your military service authorized awards. How do they do this? By asking you to send them some confidential documents with all of your personal information. From this, they will send you a response.

But why would this private organization want this material? Do they sell it? Do they use it for marketing products or services? Are you are risk for identify theft if you deal with The American War Library?

The American War Library
16907 Brighton Avenue
Gardena CA 90247-5420
Telephone/Telecopier 1-310-532-0634

On their front page, there is a list of links, several of which are broken, not a good impression for their front page. A store front with a broken door off its hinges does not impress new customers or visitors.

Their email and contact information is to a dot com domain, and a local mailing address. No affiliation can be determined from that information. And just what exactly is a Form 201-A that I would want one, and then once I have it, staple it to the back of my DD-214?

Form 201-A Request
Records Chief (REC-AMW)
The American War Library
16907 Brighton Avenue
Gardena CA 90247-5420

What next? Why lets call them on the phone, and ask the tough questions. What happens? They hang up. Several calls get the same response, or an answer and hang up.

Why hang up when someone asks a simple question - “Can you verify my military record and help me get my DD-214?”

Of course the answer to that is no. Military records must be requested directly by the individual and by contacting the US Government. Not a private company selling replica certificates. Perhaps a few fixes to the website, a security statement, and someone who answers the phone who can verify the integrity of this operation would be helpful. Until then, I would be leery of this outfit. Too many questions in a society of people just itching to gather your personal information for an arms length list of reasons. Let alone sending a stranger your name, date of birth, social security number and previous and current home address.

If the “Records Chief” wants to talk to me, drop me an email or call me. I am not that hard to find, and people know if I am bullshit or not.