'They're stealing from the poor': A major source of SNAP fraud robs recipients of millions
SNAP recipients are increasingly falling victim to skimming fraud, resulting in millions of dollars in lost food assistance benefits. Experts warn that federal funding cuts will hinder state efforts to prevent this theft.
Why it matters
Highlights the intersection of outdated government technology and the vulnerability of low-income populations to cybercrime.
As Jayeleauna Lewis listened to an automated voice system describe the unauthorized charges on her food assistance card, a pit formed in her stomach. She pictured her 3-year-old daughter and their empty fridge back home.
On the 13th of each month, Lewis, a 20-year-old single mom from Indiana, receives $486 from the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, also known as SNAP. But in September, just minutes after funds were loaded onto her account, they disappeared.
" I was heartbroken because that's how I feed my daughter," she says.
Lewis is unsure how her benefits were stolen, but cybersecurity experts say she might have been a victim of skimming — when thieves extract card information from payment terminals and drain money from accounts.
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