Stolen Stamps: Swiped SNAP benefits no longer being replaced, so here's what you should do to protect your money

Stolen Stamps: Swiped SNAP benefits no longer being replaced, so here's what you should do to protect your money

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MEMPHIS, Tenn. (WMC) - In Tennessee, over 700,000 residents share more than $139 million in monthly Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits. However, victims of card skimming and cloning are facing increasing challenges when it comes to recovering stolen funds, as the state has halted replacing stolen benefits.

Shelia Besemann from Ripley recently discovered that her SNAP benefits had been drained by someone operating hundreds of miles away in New York City. While shopping at CashSaver, she was shocked to find that her balance had plummeted from over $500 to just a few dollars. Surveillance footage showed that within hours of the theft, $281 was spent at a grocery store in Brooklyn, followed by $242 at a deli in the Bronx, putting significant strain on her family's food budget.

Stolen SNAP benefits are becoming more common, and Action News 5 has covered numerous cases of victims experiencing the plight of fraud. Unfortunately, a recent law passed in 2022 that allowed for reimbursement of stolen SNAP benefits has not been renewed. As a consequence, reimbursement will officially end on December 20, 2024, leaving victims like Besemann with little recourse other than filing police reports.

While the Tennessee Department of Human Services cannot specify the extent of the current SNAP fraud problem, it is known that since 2022, the USDA has replaced $8.6 million in stolen benefits in the state. Authorities have warned residents to be vigilant against SNAP fraud as investigations into such cases can span months or even years; a notable recent case involves a suspect charged with defrauding over $125,000 from Ohio residents using skimming devices.

To help protect themselves, officials recommend that SNAP users frequently change their PINs and regularly monitor their accounts. For added security, the new EBT Edge app allows users to freeze their cards when not in use and block transactions from out-of-state locations.