When it comes to SNAP fraud, it’s happening all over the US. But there are certain areas where it seems to be more prevalent, with individuals trying to take advantage of the most vulnerable in society.
Data from the U.S. Department of Agriculture Food and Nutrition Service reveals that in the first three months of 2024, there were 177,000 reported cases of fraud across 46 states. Some states are taking steps to tackle EBT card fraud impacting the Supplemental Food Assistance Program (SNAP).
Snap is like a regular debit card but used for buying groceries. It gets loaded with money monthly for recipients to spend in authorized stores. However, scammers see it as their next target due to vulnerabilities.
For the early months of 2024, New York has had the highest number of reported fraud cases totaling 34,306. Maryland and Texas follow closely with 9,466 and 7,764 cases, respectively.
In some states, fraud instances have spiked compared to the previous quarter, like in New York which held the lead for fraud cases in the last quarter of 2023. On the other hand, Maryland saw a slight decrease from 11,083 cases in Q4 2023 to 9,466 in Q1 2024.
Interestingly, Alaska and Wyoming have had zero reported instances of SNAP fraud, while states like Maine, North Dakota, Idaho, and South Dakota have had minimal issues with fraudsters gaining illegal access to SNAP funds.
But Arkansas, California, Hawaii, and Oklahoma lacked available data on reported SNAP thefts this year. FNS stated that states not currently reporting will be added as they update their data.
Efforts have been made by lawmakers in affected states to address the issue. New York, for instance, has put forward bills to combat fraud, such as cancelling compromised EBT cards and increasing penalties for card theft. Meanwhile, Maryland has passed laws to incorporate chip technology into EBT cards to enhance security. In Texas, arrests have been made for massive SNAP benefits thefts.