Tag: SNAPFraud | LocalHood

#SNAPFraud

Kelly Ortiz

The “Buy Cigarettes with EBT” Trick Everyone Knows

I worked a summer job at a gas station in rural Ohio. There’s a local “rule”: Customers swipe $40 EBT for food, get $25 cash from the clerk, then buy cigarettes or lottery tickets with it. One old man did it weekly. I asked why. “Because I can’t afford cigarettes, but the government keeps giving me food money.” I didn’t know whether to laugh or feel sad. #SNAPFraud #SmallTownReality

Wendy Silva

One Family, Three EBT Cards

In a Chinese neighborhood in Los Angeles, a family of three got exposed: Mom applied with her ID, Dad used an out-of-state address, Grandma claimed she “didn’t understand English” and applied again. They rotate the three cards across Costco and 99 Ranch, buying premium meat and fish. Meanwhile, seniors who truly need help get “budget shortage” notices. #SNAPFraud #MultipleEBTCards

Michael Baker

Four Roommates Sharing One EBT Card

Four young roommates in my apartment building share a two-bedroom unit. Only one qualified for SNAP. But ever since then, their fridge is always full—steaks, premium frozen meals, snacks. Turns out they rotate the card. Before shopping they literally hold a “planning meeting”: “You get meat; I’ll get fruit; we’ll fix the receipts later.” A single immigrant mom in the building was furious: “We budget every dollar for food, and they treat benefits like a game.” #SNAPFraud #BenefitAbuse

larsenjackie

The “Helper Fee” at the Self-Checkout

The first time I saw her was near the self-checkout machines. She looked young, maybe mid-20s, standing in that suspicious way—close enough to observe, far enough to pretend she was waiting. As I scanned my groceries, she whispered, “Need help? I can make your bill cheaper.” I thought she was selling some membership. Instead, she pulled out two SNAP cards and said, “You send me cash, I pay your total.” My $42 bill (chicken, milk, bread) was suddenly paid with her SNAP card, and she asked me to Cash App her $30. I knew it was wrong. But the instant savings? It hit the weak spot in me. Later, I heard the store caught seven similar “helpers” that month. Some say it’s survival. Some say it’s fraud. I can’t forget what she told me: “I don’t have a job. This card is the only way I can turn something into money.” #SNAPFraud #EBTAbuse #GroceryStories #PolicyChangedMyLife #LifeInAmerica

fdunn

Why One Mom Buys 10 Cans of Formula with EBT

When I worked at a baby store in Texas, a young mom used SNAP to buy over 10 cans of formula every week. She claimed it was “for the baby.” But one day I saw her UPS label— the destination was an overseas warehouse. She ships the formula to China for profit. Meanwhile, other moms are limited to two cans each. #SNAPFraud #FormulaResell

larry56

Says He’s Unemployed, Drives Uber 40 Hours a Week

A Colombian guy I know in Miami told the government he “couldn’t find steady work.” He got SNAP easily. But in reality, he drives Uber every day, using three different apps, making more than many workers. He laughed: “I reported zero income. They didn’t check. Why should I refuse it?” His sister, who just immigrated, got denied because she earned slightly above the cutoff. #SNAPFraud #IncomeHiding

Catherine Parsons

EBT Cash Line Behind the Corner Store

In a small corner store in Brooklyn, there’s always a quiet line behind the back door after 6 PM. A warehouse worker, a high school kid, even a regular-looking mom—they all wait for one guy: the owner’s nephew. He barely talks. Just checks his phone: “$100 EBT, I give you $60 cash.” The store keeps stacks of fake receipts for inspections. Meanwhile, immigrant families who actually need groceries are comparing egg prices at the front aisle. #SNAPFraud #EBTAbuse

angelajackson

Where Did the Thanksgiving Turkey Money Go?

I thought this Thanksgiving would be a bit easier because our community center promised food kits for low-income families. But when it was finally my turn in line, the staff already looked stressed—they said the number of kits “didn’t match.” Turns out someone pretended to be three different households and used stolen information to claim multiple temporary SNAP cards, redeeming several turkey kits early. Many seniors in our neighborhood were counting on that turkey for their holiday, but they ended up getting nothing and had to grab frozen pizza instead. I’m not blaming everyone on SNAP, but this kind of fraud hurts families who truly need help. One person’s dishonesty made many people’s holiday much harder. #SNAPFraud #ThanksgivingPrep #CommunityStories #FoodAssistance

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

alan88

The Hidden Market: “SNAP Points for Uber Credits”

In a Houston WeChat community, there’s a secret exchange: 100 SNAP points → $50 in Uber credits. The system works like this: You give someone your SNAP card info; they use the balance to buy groceries, resell them for cash, and then send you Uber ride codes. One woman said she trades half her monthly SNAP balance every month because she works far from home. But then someone exposed the scheme: The reseller wasn’t actually reselling anything— he’d drain the whole balance and send fake Uber codes. The community exploded. Some said people were exploiting each other; some blamed the system’s loopholes; others claimed “still safer than selling for cash.” But the truth is: nearly everyone was participating in some level of wrongdoing— just in different forms. #SNAPFraud #UndergroundTrade #UrbanStruggles #TransportVsFood #WelfareReality

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