Tag: Poverty | LocalHood

#Poverty

SlateSerenade

My account was drained 20 days before Christmas. The state says: "Fill out a form and wait."

I’ve been saving $50 from my benefits for the last three months. I was building a little "nest egg" to buy a proper Christmas dinner—a ham, sides, maybe even a pie. I went to buy milk this morning. "Insufficient Funds." I checked the app. A transaction for $380 was made at 2 AM at a 7-Eleven in a state I have never visited. I immediately called the fraud department. They confirmed it was skimming. "We will cancel your card and mail a new one in 7-10 business days," the agent said. "What about the money?" I asked. "You have to file a dispute form. Investigation takes up to 90 days. If approved, you might get it back by March." March. So Christmas is cancelled. My kids will be eating whatever the local food pantry has left. These scammers aren't stealing from banks; they are stealing food out of children's mouths. It’s evil. PSA: Change your PIN before you shop today. Don’t let this happen to you. #EBTSkimming #FraudAlert #ChristmasCancelled #Poverty #Scammers #Theft

Katherine Guzman

Drained in Seconds: The Skimming Victim

Linda waited for the 1st of the month to buy baby formula. She loaded her cart and swiped her card. "Declined." She tried again. "Declined." Panic set in. She checked her app. Her entire $500 balance had been spent at 12:01 AM at a 7-Eleven in New York—while she was asleep in Ohio. Criminals had placed a skimmer on a card reader she used days ago, stealing her data. Because EBT cards lack security chips, they are easy targets. Linda didn't commit fraud; she was the victim of it. Now, she has to explain to her kids why the fridge is empty while waiting weeks for the state to investigate. #CyberSecurity #Skimming #Victim #Poverty #SystemFailure

hernandezhoward

The Parking Lot Deal: 50 Cents on the Dollar

Jessica stood outside the Walmart entrance, clutching her EBT card. Her car’s transmission had blown, and the mechanic wouldn't take food stamps. She needed cash—desperately. She approached a shopper pushing a cart. "Hey," she whispered, her face burning with shame. "If I buy your groceries, like $100 worth, will you give me $50 cash?" The shopper hesitated, then nodded. They went through the checkout together. Jessica swiped her card, the transaction approved. Outside, money changed hands. Jessica lost $50 in food value instantly, but she got the cash she needed to get to work tomorrow. Is this fraud? Yes. But for Jessica, it was survival. #SNAPFraud #WelfareFraud #Poverty #SurvivalMode #USPolitics

Adam Rich

What cheap habit stuck around, even after you got financially stable, and actually made your life better?

For me, it’s using EVERYTHING in the fridge. I mean, the absolute zero-waste mentality. I started it because I couldn't afford to waste a single onion, and now I’m genuinely annoyed if I don’t use up the celery tops. It just feels wrong to throw food away now. And I believe it made me a much more creative cook. #Frugal #MoneyHacks #Adulting #SurvivalSkills #LifeHacks #Poverty

You've reached the end!

Tag Page Poverty

My account was drained 20 days before Christmas. The state says: "Fill out a form and wait."

Drained in Seconds: The Skimming Victim

The Parking Lot Deal: 50 Cents on the Dollar

What cheap habit stuck around, even after you got financially stable, and actually made your life better?