Hangry is a real thing folks. The term “hangry” is a combination of the words “hunger” and “anger” is more than a phenomenon with research showing a clear connection between hunger and increased feelings of irritability and anger. And for SNAP benefit recipients, it must be constant. Austin Metzler had his leg amputated nine years ago and now relies on SNAP benefits to help feed his family. Metzler, who receives $140 on his SNAP card on the 15th of each month, got a very unpleasant surprise when he was shopping for groceries earlier this month. He was told the balance on it was just .46 cents.
The same scene has been playing out in grocery stores throughout Kentucky and Indiana, with hackers stealing millions of dollars of benefits from families in these two states. The Indiana Family and Social Services Administration’s Division of Family Resources said the thieves have been using skimmers to capture personal information, then cloning SNAP cards and using them before the true card holder discovers the theft.
A new federal law now requires every state to replace benefits stolen between October 2022 and September 2024. Over the past year, Kentucky has spent $2,280,311 to replace stolen SNAP benefits, while Indiana has replaced $3,000,000. Metzler pointed out “That’s $5,000,000 that people missed on their dinner tables.” True.
Shout out to Metzler’s community. Metzler said the New Albany community came together to get his son the food he likes, but he worries that other families won’t be as fortunate.
Today’s Fraud of The Day is based on article “Food stamp fraud | $5 million in SNAP benefits stolen in Kentucky and Indiana” published on WDRB News on August 23, 2024.
Kentucky and Indiana have spent more than $5,000,000 to replace stolen snap benefits over the last year. Thieves have stolen more than $5 million worth of food stamps from families in Kentucky and Indiana over the past year.
Scammers are draining accounts linked to EBT cards. “Don’t steal people’s food, don’t take food off the table,” Austin Metzler said. “Don’t steal from the families.” Metzler had his leg amputated nine years ago. He now relies on SNAP (Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program) benefits to help feed his family.
