FIGHTING CYBERCRIME DAV teams up to arm veterans, families against online criminals
the women of cash, valuables and their sense of security. Just as quickly as Palmer could get one fake profile taken down, she would see her husband’s photo appear on another site. By Tom Jenkins “There was nothing I could do,” said Palmer. “I didn’t even know I was a victim of cybercrime.” ith just two weeks left in Army Sgt. 1st Class Collin The cyberattack set Palmer down a path to help keep J. Bowen’s 2007–2008 deployment to Afghanistan, others from being victimized. Over a decade later, his patrol vehicle struck an improvised explosive device Palmer serves as executive director of Military and (IED). While he was hospitalized at Brooke Army Medical Veteran Programs for Cybercrime Support Network Center in San Antonio, Texas, (CSN), Partnership to his wife, Ursula Palmer, took to FightCybercrime initiative. the internet to update family and Palmer, a DAV HillVets friends on Bowen’s condition as Fellow, worked closely with he underwent multiple surgeries. DAV’s legislative team and Several months after the knew where she could turn explosion, Bowen died due to for help. complications from his injuries. In 2021, DAV became Soon after, the website became the first veterans service a permanent memorial to the organization to join late soldier—and a target for the Partnership to cybercriminals. FightCybercrime, which “That following year, four has grown to include different women contacted me,” other prominent military said Palmer. “They asked me, ‘Is and veterans service this person on this website real?’ organizations, corporations, They then asked if he indeed was foundations and federal —Kristin Judge, CSN CEO and founder a soldier who had died.” agencies. These four women had all been “DAV is proud to be contacted by an account using Bowen’s photo—the same partnering with a program like FightCybercrime,” said image used on the website just one year earlier. National Adjutant Marc Burgess. “We want to be there They were all victims of someone posing as Bowen for veterans as we educate ourselves on how to fight back on different dating sites. The scammer had defrauded against cybercrime, as we know our community is one
W
“We don’t have time to waste with cybercrime growing exponentially. Working with partners who have earned the trust of the veteran community will allow us to reach those who need help faster.”
14
WWW.HomelandMagazine.com / DECEMBER 2021
