Military scammers can be very persuasive with their made-up backstories and deceptive tactics. That’s why it is necessary to be educated about the methods how to find out whether a person is lying about their military service to trick you, especially if you use dating apps or have work partnerships with military people. X-Ray Contact Team introduces 4 methods how to expose lies of an imposter with both for-pay and free online instruments.
Is There a Way to Prove Someone Was in the Military?
Sure, most real military people can prove that they are not lying about their occupation with ease. For instance, all people who were once employed in the US military must have a DD-214 form. Certificate of Release or Discharge from Active Duty or DD-214 is issued to any person who has finished 90 days of military service or more and was honourably discharged. However, if a person claims to be in active service, ask them for their CAC or Common Access Card. All active-duty military employees use it as an ID card in the army.
However, the verification is much more complicated if you have doubts about the military background of a person you’ve met online. It is easy to use someone else’s documents and falsify photos with editing. Hence, we recommend to try out more advanced OSINT strategies to clarify if the person is not lying about their military career.
Way 1: How to Check If Someone Was in the Military With X-Ray Contact
Wonder how to spot a fake military person? Using data aggregation platforms like X-Ray Contact is an easy means to look up someone, even if you have no knowledge of open source intelligence research. Use any accessible channels like Name, Email Address, Socials, Phone Number, Image, or even Username to search for more data about a person on the Platform tab. If the investigation is successful, you will have a person of interest profile about a target. Since X-Ray Contact can dig up data about someone’s education and employment, you can verify whether the person is lying about their military background.
Way 2: How to Spot a Fake Military Person? Use HUMINT
You can try and expose a lie yourself with the help of the HUMINT techniques. Pay attention to such subtle things in the conversation with a target to find out whether they are lying about their military service:
- Listen carefully to the stories they tell about their military experience. If the whole thing is a lie, they will likely mess up details or omit certain events. Take note of whether all their military service tales logically align and don’t contradict one another.
- Check whether they know military jargon and are aware of the internal army systems. For example, ask them what is the difference between the Navy and Marines? How many people are in a platoon? What’s the protocol for morning formation in their unit? If the person is not lying about their military service, they will know this basic info like the back of their hand.
- Study the verbal and non-verbal cues that point out that the person is lying. If they are avoiding eye contact, fidgeting, or overcompensating by trying to sound too confident, it is likely they are telling you a lie about their military service. However, always give someone a benefit of a doubt. Maybe, a person is a real veteran who struggles with PTSD or anxiety about their service.
Way 3: How to Check If a Soldier Is Real for Free? Contact NPRC
The National Personnel Records Center or NPRC has records about all the military servicemembers in the US. You need to fill out a Standard Form 180 in order to request copies of military records, including proof of service. You should use mail or fax to contact the organization or use eVetRecs to request online records.
Way 4: How Can I Verify If Someone Served in the Military? Try SCRACVS
In a nutshell, the Servicemembers Civil Relief Act Centralized Verification Service or SCRACVS is an online instrument to verify whether a person really is an active-duty soldier or a veteran. On the SCRACVS website, you can submit a search request for an individual by providing some key information. It is an official for-pay means how to check if someone was in the military.
However, a person may not be lying even if SCRACVS is unable to verify their military service background. It may not provide detailed historical records for those who served long ago, so be aware of this shortcoming.
What Is the Penalty for Lying About Military Service?
If you have exposed a military scammer, you can bring them to justice for lying about their army service background. You can use Violation of the Stolen Valour Act to legally prosecute someone who falsely claimed about their military service. Some states impose fines, community service, or even jail time for scammers who are lying about military service, especially if the person uses the lie to get financial benefits.
Conclusion
Therefore, there are a few accessible means to verify whether a person is lying about their military service. Don’t hesitate to look up a suspect before building relationships with them, having business commitments, or giving money to them, since their lie can endanger your safety.