EBT-SNAP Benefit Fraud Leaves Thousands Without Food On Their Tables
MOBILE Ala.
December 7th, 2024
By: Rick McCann
Alabama is just one of almost a dozen states that have experienced EBT-SNAP benefit fraud leaving thousands of people without food on their table.
The program, SNAP, commonly called the food stamp program, originally began to end hunger and improve nutrition by providing monthly benefits to eligible low-income households.
However, it has become a crutch for many, but it is still a vital program for those who live in poverty, seniors surviving on small social security or disability checks, and the working poor.
In the past few years, scammers have used numerous deceptive ways to steal funds from recipients of the program.
Some use elaborate phone scams, others hack digital accounts and steal the person’s information.
In Huntsville and elsewhere in Alabama, scammers have been stealing people’s EBT SNAP benefits for the past several months.
The Alabama Department of Human Resources said thousands of people across the state have lost millions of dollars.
The DHR said these thefts stem from a larger issue that is happening at a national level.
Both local and federal law enforcement have been called in to stop the thefts, but so far, it’s done little to thwart the thefts.
According to the Alabama DHR, criminals are using a variety of methods to steal people’s personal information, which gives them the data they need to drain people’s EBT benefits.
The Alabama DHR said criminals are using skimming devices at places like gas stations to steal that information.
The skimmers are attached to the credit card machines inside grocery stores, convenience stores, and any place where food is sold. The information is collected, and the scammers pick up their skimming devices and move on.
They are also targeting people with fake calls and even using their expertise to hack into sensitive online databases that have people’s personal information.
Donna Miller, who lives in Huntsville, said her account was drained by thieves.
She said she first noticed it when she was at a grocery store and was told that her EBT card had insufficient funds.
Miller’s daughter was later able to help determine that the funds were spent at three different deli stores in New York.
Miller said she depends on her EBT benefits for food every month because she’s unable to work due to health issues.
After reporting the theft, she had to wait two weeks for a new card.
Miller’s daughter even had to go door dashing on the side to make extra money while her mother waited for a new card.
Tracy Little, who lives on a small disability check in Montgomery, said that her account was tapped for several months, even after reporting the thefts to authorities.
Alabama DHR, Deputy Chief of Staff Daniel Sparkman recommends that users change their PIN to help avoid this fraud in the future.
Nationwide authorities are advising SNAP users to change their PIN number frequently and to not allow anyone else to use their cards.
Some of the ways that fraudsters obtain the accountholders information include:
Criminals use phony text messages to obtain EBT card numbers and PINs and steal SNAP benefits (phishing scams).
They may pose as SNAP case workers and claim recipients were chosen to receive food stamps.
Scammers tamper with credit card readers to skim EBT card numbers.
They create fake EBT cards and use stolen SNAP benefits to purchase food and beverages.
Be cautious and do not provide your EBT card number or PIN by phone or text.
In Alabama, DHR is currently working on security upgrades for new EBT benefit cards that will include a chip feature and the ability for someone to go online and turn those cards on and off.
Those cards are expected to be rolled out sometime in 2025.
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