SNAP Stolen Benefits Claims Skyrocket
In the third quarter of 2024 (July, August, and September), the number of reported Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefit thefts jumped by 105,935 from the previous quarter to 287,661.
Those criminal transactions have resulted in more than $53 million being paid to replace the benefits that are meant for some of the most vulnerable people in America.
SNAP benefits are administered to recipients through electronic benefit transfer (EBT) cards, which are loaded with money each month to use in participating stores across the country. Like regular debit or credit cards, they are subject to scams such as cloning, phishing or skimming.
In the first quarter of 2024, there were 176,456 instances of fraudulent transactions reported to the USDA across 50 U.S. states and territories. A further 181,726 were reported in the second quarter, between April and June. However, in the third quarter, the number of thefts jumped by more than 100,000.
Fraudulent SNAP transactions rose by more than 250,000 in the third quarter of 2023, data from the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) shows, marking a significant increase on previous periods.
A stock image of a person using a card machine to make a purchase. SNAP fraud has been reported in nearly every state and territory in the U.S.
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Across the reported states and territories, which excludes Arkansas and Virginia, California reported the most bogus claims, with 27,813 in the third quarter. For previous quarters, it has not reported the data to the USDA. Rounding off the top three are Florida and New York, with 20,281 and 19,974 respectively.
Some states and territories are reporting considerably fewer thefts. In Guam, not a single instance of SNAP fraud was reported to the USDA in the third quarter of 2024, while only one unlucky beneficiary reported a theft in North Dakota. There were similarly low numbers the states of Montana, Wyoming, Idaho, South Dakota, Vermont, and Kansas, all of which reported fewer than 10 SNAP theft claims.
Several states have taken steps to tackle fraud. Among the changes touted by lawmakers to make SNAP less susceptible to theft, introducing chip technology—a universal feature of regular debit and credit cards—is being considered or enacted in several states.
In California, where the problem appears to be the worst, the state has set a new target of mid-January 2025 to begin mass EBT card replacement with new cards equipped with chip technology.
The USDA advises SNAP recipients to take their own steps to prevent fraud, including frequently changing the PIN of your EBT card, not sharing its details with anyone, and be wary of false actors pretending to be government agencies. If you believe you may be a victim of fraud, you should contact your local SNAP office.