A report from the Government Accountability Office (GAO) highlights significant theft of Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits, with fraudsters stealing approximately $320 million over a two-year span. The report emphasizes the need for better security measures by state SNAP agencies.
• The GAO's report indicates that states are not fully reporting SNAP theft incidents, which may lead to an underestimation of the problem.
• States have implemented various recommended security tools to combat theft, but many measures require action from SNAP recipients. This affects how effectively these measures are used.
• Techniques used by thieves include card skimming, cloning, and phishing. Fraudsters may also impersonate legitimate retailers or use bots to guess account PINs.
• Between October 2022 and December 2024, states replaced over $320 million in stolen benefits for nearly 679,000 households across 52 states.
• The GAO warns that benefits stolen after December 21, 2024, are no longer eligible for federal replacement funds, potentially leaving victims without resources to buy food.
• The report urges the Agriculture Secretary to continually evaluate how state SNAP agencies implement theft prevention measures and to identify areas needing improvement or additional support.
This report highlights the critical issue of SNAP benefit theft and the importance of improved security protocols. The GAO’s recommendations suggest a need for greater accountability and action to protect vulnerable populations reliant on these benefits.
No comments:
Post a Comment