Talisa Hawkins is unemployed and raising her young niece. Sometimes the right path is not the easiest path. Like tens of thousands of DC residents, Hawkins relies on public assistance, including SNAP benefits and welfare, to put food on the table for her niece and pay the rent. But this month, when Hawkins went to use her government-issued SNAP benefits, she was declined. On the third visit back to the grocery store and the third decline of her benefits Hawkins figured, ‘hey, something’s wrong here’. So, she called the DC Department of Human Services Economic Security Administration and found out that the available balance on her SNAP benefit card was only nine dollars. When Hawkins looked at her account online, she saw her money had been withdrawn only hours after it had been deposited on the first of the month. And had been used before Hawkins’ grocery store was even open! Thus, putting her in a position where she couldn’t provide a full meal, but rendered her unable to pay her rent nor get school supplies for her niece. “I really need those things to get me through the month.” Again, sometimes the right path, like raising your niece, is not the easiest path.
Hawkins is just one of thousands of D.C. residents who have been targeted by criminals cloning or skimming EBT cards. It’s a nationwide problem. But in Washington D.C., more than $6.5 million has been stolen in the last two years. Last fiscal year, 4,689 EBT fraud cases were reported in D.C., totaling more than $3.1 million. This fiscal year, the number of cases jumped to more than 6,800, totaling more than $3.4 million.
SNAP benefits are issued using electronic benefit transfer (EBT) cards. According to Laura Green Zeilinger, the director of the D.C. Department of Human Services., SNAP benefit fraud is “getting worse because federal law does not require EBT cards to have the same protection as debit and credit cards. Such as an embedded chip. Right now, the federal government is reimbursing the stolen money to victims, so Talisa Hawkins will be OK. But that funding is set to run out at the end of September.
Shout out to the DC Department of Human Services Economic Security Administration for providing programs for individuals to reach their potential.
Today’s Fraud of The Day is based on article “Scammers steal millions from DC residents who rely on public assistance” published by News4 Washington on September 19, 2024.
Thousands of Washington, D.C.’s most vulnerable residents have been the target of a scam that’s costing taxpayers millions of dollars. The scammers are stealing money from residents receive SNAP benefits and other public assistance.
In the last two years, more than $6.5 million has been stolen in D.C. alone. But it’s not just happening in the District. It’s a nationwide problem. News4’s Mark Segraves broke the story that you’ll see only on 4.
