For the past three years, B.G. Burkett has worked with the Department of Veterans Affairs Office of the Inspector General on Operation Stolen Valor to uncover people who claim to be a veteran in order to get benefits. In 2007, eight individuals were caught fabricating documents to get VA benefits in the Seattle area, including combat injury compensation. While stolen valor may be viewed as a modern-day issue, it stretches back much farther than anticipated. Doug Sterner, who maintains the Military Times Hall of Valor Database, says that a long time ago, he had a man try to claim a Medal of Honor from WWI that he never actually received.
Source: https://www.militarytimes.com/2019/11/05/thieves-among-honor-counterfeit-veterans/