A Word of Caution to Military Families

[PamOKW]

I am saddened to think such a thing is happening, but I thought I'd post here what I just read in our paper. The Red Cross has reported incidents of military families being contacted and told their family member is dead or missing. These calls are being made by pranksters (criminals) claiming to be calling on behalf of the Red Cross. The Red Cross advises anyone who gets such a call to report it to their military liason and/or the Red Cross.

There certainly a lot of sick people in the world who would do such a thing. But, it's a general reminder to anyone with someone in the service to be cautious in any phone or mail solicitiations regarding donations or bringing you "news".

 

[doxdogy]

That is so cruel. What kind of person could do that to another human being? It truly boggles my mind how some people can be so mean to another person.

 

[TEENEE]

Unfortunately there are sick people in the world that get some sort of perverted kick out of watching other people suffer. This same thing happened during Vietnam. If you are a military family watch your children very closely. There are people (even teachers) that will say things to your kids that can be very upsetting to kids. Some people have such small minds that they can't understand the the military was called on to do a job, even if we don't agree with our government we have to support our troops. I better stop. I can feel my blood starting to boil.

God Bless our troops
Tina

 

[jenjie]

I read about this too. I don't know how some people can be so heartless and cruel. Good idea to warn people here.

 

[Galahad]

I thought that news of a service members death was still given to the family in person rather than on the phone (read a story to that effect last week). If that is true, then the word needs to get out that ANY phone call with that claim is false.

 

[SeaShelley]

You are correct Galahad. The military has very strict procedures they must follow when notifying family of a service member's injury or death and it must be done in person.

 

[kdibattista]

I think we need to send those people over to Iraq

 

[kdibattista]

pre-liberation

 

[MelanieC]

MY DH also told me that they were told to tell us that people are calling families and telling them that their loved ones were killed and they want the social security number and other info and are using this info to try to get money from people. I am not sure exactly how they are doing it, because DH does not tell a story second hand very well.


Melanie

 

[TwinMom7]

There is NO WAY that you'll get a phone call from the Red Cross.

We were told that if there is an injury which requires hospitalization, we will receive a telegram from the Department of Defense. In the case of a death, it will be a personal visit from two Marines (in our case).

 

[MJames41]

TwinMom, unless they changed the rules, even a hospitalization would be done by 2 Marines as well (it used to be one of the jobs I had when I was stationed in Chicago). One of my funniest memories was from a hospitalization call.

It was just after the Beirut bombing and all the calls involved for that. We received a call to go into the Projects (Cabreny (sp) Green) on the South Side. This Staff Seargeant and myself (I was a Sergeant) got our dress blues on, got in the brand new Sedan, and started out. Less than a block from the station, we hit a huge pot hole, and broke the axle on the car. We got out, went back to the station, got the Van, started out, hit the same pot hole (he was driving - at least that's how I remember it), broke the axle on the van. Went back, got an older sedan, and took a different route to the expressway. We got there, and we go to the house. Usually, when we make a call like that, the family is too much in shock to ask a lot of questions, and they would call us back the next day if they needed more information. Not this mom - she wanted a full debrief. After 1/2 an hour, her other son comes in - wearing gang colors - and he walks right back out. The Staff Sergeant and I look at each other, and we are both thinking the same thing - he went to get the rest of his gang because he believes his brother is dead, and they are going to ambush us before we leave. In the meantime, his mom is still asking lots and lots of questions. Fortunately, our thoughts were wrong - we made it out alive.

Anyway, just to let you know, if you do see 2 Marines at your door it doesn't necessarily mean the worst.

You are definately right about the phone call. No one that I know of does that.

 

[nativetxn]

That's outlandish. There are cruel people in this world, all over it.

 

[PamOKW]

I know that the notification is done in person. I'm not exactly sure how they are working this scam. Of course, it would be upsetting to receive even if you know that it must be false if you are an immediate family member. My guess is they may target extended family...calling a parent or a brother or sister, someone who wouldn't receive the first military notification. In any case, it has to be a truly heartless person to do such a thing.