There’s a scam targeting military veterans, Steuben County Clerk Judy Hunter warned residents recently.
Hunter says a DD214 DIRECT, a company out of Phoenix, Arizona, is contacting veterans offering copies of their discharge papers for payment.
The company charges $79 for a hard copy and $119 for an email copy, according to WENY.
Hunter said veterans should file their discharge papers with the county clerk’s office in the county where they live.
Original papers are always returned to the veteran, she continued.
A free, certified copy can be provided to the veteran, their parent, spouse, dependent or child at any point.
Hunter said there’s no reason for veterans to pay “outlandish fees” for these records when free copies are available.
“NYS Military Law prohibits disclosure of information on the discharge papers to anyone else without the written authorization of the veteran,” she said.
Steuben County veterans can contact the county clerk’s office at 607-664-2563.
