-- Shares Facebook Twitter Reddit Email Back in October 2022, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) and Administration for Children and Families (ACF) posted a notice about a growing trend of EBT card skimming.
The scheme involves scammers stealing Electronic Benefits Transfer (EBT) account information from unsuspecting recipients of Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits, typically during checkout. At the time, the USDA’s Food and Nutrition Service along with the ACF assured those relying on government food assistance that they were working to combat SNAP fraud: “As Federal partners, we seek to work with State leaders of both programs to take strong preventive actions to protect clients from victimization and provide the tools and supports for program participants to proactively safeguard their benefits.” But now, more than a year later, EBT card skimming schemes have grown rampant, compelling a few recipients to take matters into their own hands .
More than 59,000 homes have been impacted by food stamp fraud, which amounts to more than $30 million in lost benefits, according to recent statistics from the USDA. In 2023, Florida reported 356 claims concerning stolen SNAP benefits. Elsewhere in Detroit, a “substantial food stamp fraud ring” made headlines after three individuals reportedly stole $4 million in SNAP benefits from 8,000 EBT cardholders.
A similar scheme also occurred in Dixon, Illinois, where 2,800 Walmart shoppers were robbed of .
