DoomsdaysCWAug 15, 2025

From 2022: Thieves are stealing #SNAP funds electronically. In most states, victims never get reimbursed.

“They took every penny,” said one SNAP skimming victim, who can no longer afford to buy a Christmas present for his son.

Dec. 10, 2022, 6:00 AM EST
By Elizabeth Chuck

"Hidden skimming devices are being placed on card-swiping machines near cash registers to steal SNAP funds from electronic benefit transfer, or #EBT, cards. The devices are often plastic keypad overlays that look nearly identical to the card reader terminals themselves."

https://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/thieves-are-stealing-snap-funds-electronically-states-victims-never-ge-rcna60172

#SNAPBenefits #Skimmers #EBTCards #TheftRing

Thieves are stealing SNAP funds electronically. In most states, victims never get reimbursed.

This story was produced by NBC News’ Elizabeth Chuck as part of the 2022 National Fellowship at the USC Annenberg Center for Health Journalism.

NBC News
Show threadCory DoctorowJul 13, 2023

These benefits are distributed via debit cards - #EBTCards - that lack the basic security measures every other kind of card has had for years. They're simple magstripe cards, lacking basic #ChipAndPin defenses, to say nothing of contactless countermeasures.

That means that fraudsters can - and do - install #skimmers in the point-of-sale terminals used by benefits recipients to withdraw their cash benefits, pay for food using #SNAP (AKA #FoodStamps), and receive other benefits.

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