$500,000 is Combined Out By Oklahoma’s In SNAP Benefit Scam
OKLAHOMA CITY (KFOR) – The Department of Human Services of the state says since Dec. 8, a lot of Oklahomans have been affected by a skimming scam card that’s targeting families that holds low-income who use Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP).
A special agent in charge of the investigation at the Oklahoma Department of Human Services Office of the Inspector General named Michael Adams said there’s a whole lot, a whole lot and they’re wiping out every bit of the food stamps that are in there.
According to Michael Adams, victims have seen a collective loss of money worth $500,000. Unfortunately, the scammers are giving a lot of people in a tough position this supposedly happy holiday season.
An OKC resident named Barbara North said she had to make a choice, either food or presents. Barbara North told KFOR that one Monday night, she went to Walmart to shop and buy Christmas dinner for herself and her grandchildren, even tho she knows she had $116 on her EBT card to spend on food.
But when she checked it out, she saw a heart-sinking discovery. North said the cashier slid her card and there was only $0.85 on her card, she called the DHS office this morning and they said that Barbara North was one of the victims of food stamp fraud.
KFOR talked with another resident of OKC that’s also facing the hard similar situation. The resident was Charles Colbert and he said that he looked at his account on Tuesday and saw what should’ve been $280 and was wiped to 35 cents.
The poor scammed man Colbert said that was his food for his Christmas. Colbert and North are just two of hundreds of scammed Oklahomans who’ve been targeted in about the last week and a half. The news was reported last week, several businesses in New York are where some of the EBT funds seem to be going.
Adams also added on Tuesday that the overwhelming majority of the stolen money of the residents is being spent in New York. DHS also said that their trace led them to two Brooklyn addresses when they followed the suspicious purchases. KFOR sent a photographer to that location as soon as they tracked the two addresses down.
The state Department of Human Services says that since Dec. 8, hundreds of Oklahoma residents have been affected by a card-skimming scam targeting low-income families who are enrolled in the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP ) to use. (Photo: Local Today)
HERE’S WHAT THEY FOUND:
According to a published post by Local Today, Throop Farm Market was the first location that they tracked but it was closed. On the top, there’s an indication that EBT cards are accepted. The second location they tracked led to where reportedly Brooklyn Meat Market has been accepting EBT purchases out of Oklahoma but it did not seem to be a business at all.
The location looked more like a house, with a storefront. The gate of the place was pulled down and there was a letter visible that said the words imminently perilous to life. Furthermore, Adam said he can’t go into details thereof an ongoing investigation, but they can see every penny that is spent with Oklahoma food stamps.
Adam added that they were aware of where the food stamp was being spent and for that, they are coordinating with the proper officials in New York.
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