Surge in SNAP Fraud Impacting Georgia Residents

News Summary

A significant rise in food assistance fraud has led to over $23 million in stolen SNAP benefits, affecting residents who depend on the program for food supplies. Criminal activities such as cyberattacks and skimming devices have fueled this alarming trend. Despite law enforcement efforts to combat these fraudulent practices, families continue to report theft of benefits even without card usage. The situation has worsened due to a cyberattack on the SNAP call center, further complicating security measures. Authorities are actively working to protect SNAP beneficiaries and address the evolving tactics of fraudsters.

Atlanta, Georgia – A surge in food assistance fraud has led to over $23 million in stolen SNAP benefits this year alone, severely impacting residents who rely on the program for essential food supplies. Criminal activities, including cyberattacks and the use of illegal skimming devices, have contributed to this alarming increase, prompting local authorities to take action.

The U.S. Secret Service recently conducted a special operation across metro Atlanta aimed at identifying and removing skimming devices that have been secretly affixed to card readers and ATMs. These devices are designed to steal sensitive data from SNAP benefit cards, enabling criminals to clone them and quickly drain the accounts of beneficiaries when funds are loaded each month.

Deputy Special Agent Robert Donovan noted that EBT cards are particularly attractive to criminals, highlighting the regular influx of funds that families receive monthly. Following the operation, there was a noticeable reduction in reported skimming devices during follow-up visits, though the threat remains as criminals adapt to use increasingly sophisticated techniques, such as artificial intelligence and automated bots, to hack systems and compromise passwords.

Reports indicate that some Georgians are experiencing theft of SNAP benefits even without having used their cards in stores. This suggests that stolen Food and Nutrition Services (FNS) numbers could be misappropriated at point-of-sale devices, leading to rapid and systemic theft. In the last quarter of 2024 alone, there was a staggering 350% increase in EBT fraud compared to earlier in the year, reflecting the escalating nature of this crisis.

Compounding the challenges faced by SNAP recipients, the Georgia Department of Human Services revealed a cyberattack on its SNAP benefits call center, which is managed by contractor Conduent. This attack aimed to improperly access EBT account information and disrupted services, forcing officials to request that Georgians change their Personal Identification Numbers (PINs) and lock their EBT cards to enhance security.

As these security breaches continue, families have reported that stolen SNAP funds were missing shortly after deposits were made, indicating an increasingly organized trend in fraud that spans multiple states. Though Congress had previously introduced a reimbursement policy for stolen SNAP benefits, this initiative expired in December 2024, leaving countless families—including victims like Elaine Edwards—unable to recover their losses.

The secretive nature of these operations and the involvement of international crime rings point to the evolution of SNAP fraud into a more serious form of white-collar crime. The implications of such fraud extend beyond financial losses; they disrupt the lives of vulnerable individuals who depend on these crucial benefits for survival.

Local authorities and federal agents are working diligently to find solutions to these challenges and enhance protections for SNAP beneficiaries. In light of the evolving technology vulnerabilities and the sophistication of fraudulent activities targeting assistance programs, continuous efforts are being made to fortify security measures and develop robust strategies to combat these crimes.

As officials strive to protect the integrity of the SNAP program, the disruptions caused by these criminal activities serve as a stark reminder of the ongoing battle against fraud in the digital age. As fraud tactics evolve, the importance of maintaining scrutiny and vigilance over assistance programs remains paramount for safeguarding the resources intended for those in need.

Deeper Dive: News & Info About This Topic

• Atlanta News First
• Wikipedia: Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program
• 11Alive
• Google Search: SNAP fraud Georgia
• WRDW
• Google Scholar: SNAP benefits fraud
• Atlanta News First
• Encyclopedia Britannica: Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program
• 11Alive
• Google News: EBT card fraud