(PatriotPostNews.com) — Criminals are targeting the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), putting vulnerable American citizens at risk. The program, often still known as “food stamps”, provides funds specified for groceries and other essential needs for low-income individuals and families.
Credit and debit card skimming, as well as mobile wallet skimming, have been a rising issue in recent years, but now thieves are targeting low-income residents who rely on state benefits for sustenance.
Criminals often install undetectable devices on ATMs and even gas pumps designed to copy bank card information. Thieves can then use the information to steal funds or make outrageous purchases. Bad actors are now targeting Pennsylvania’s Electronic Benefits Transfer cards, or EBT cards. The cards act identically to debit cards, but transfer government financial benefits instead of traditional debit or credit. Because the cards function like traditional cards, scammers are able to use the same simple technology to rob someone’s personal information.
Card skimmers consist of a simple magnetic reader. The reader grabs the card information and translates it into a text format, which can then be easily entered into any retailer or other avenue.
Beginning in 2023, the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) began issuing warnings about EBT scams. Besides skimming, bad actors will send out phishing or other phony messages, mimicking official emails or text messages. Scammers will even build websites that look identical to government operated websites. Scammers can even use wireless methods to clone information from smartphone mobile wallets.
Like Pennsylvania, California is experiencing a rise in EBT scams. EBT and SNAP programs are funded by tax dollars. Thieves are essentially stealing from all US citizens by targeting these benefit programs. California’s total tax-dollar losses are estimated to be in the tens of millions.
Philadelphia remains a hotbed for EBT theft as additional city residents report stolen SNAP funds. During one interview, a mother became emotional and said, EBT “is how we eat.”
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