While lawmakers debate budget cuts, thousands of families lose their only livelihood due to card fraud
The theft of Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits remains a critical issue in Virginia and other U.S. states. Not only do families face the uncertainty of potential cuts to food assistance, but many have also seen their SNAP accounts emptied by scammers with no chance of reimbursement.
EBT card fraud has been on the rise in recent years, with criminals using card cloning and fake messages to steal beneficiaries’ personal data. According to federal data, in Virginia, the number of benefit theft claims increased by 614% in 2023, reaching nearly 4,000 reports in the last quarter alone of the year.
Families Desperate After Losing Their Benefits
The impact of these frauds is devastating. News 3 investigative reporter Margaret Kavanagh has documented cases like that of Bianca Sweeney, a mother from Norfolk who, overnight, saw her SNAP balance drop from $953 to just $61.
«The first night, I cried and cried and cried. I stayed up all night, very frustrated, thinking: ‘What am I going to do?'» Sweeney said.
Complaints have multiplied on social media, where victims denounce the lack of solutions. One user expressed their outrage:
«The person responsible faces no consequences; meanwhile, my three children and I suffer from not having food because of this.»
Other beneficiaries have had to file reports and cancel their cards, but so far, with no guarantees that the problem won’t happen again.
A Possible Solution: Card Locking
In an attempt to curb fraud, the Virginia Department of Social Services (VDSS) has implemented a new feature in the ConnectEBT app, allowing users to immediately lock their SNAP card. This tool prevents any unauthorized purchases, although benefit deposits will remain active.
Despite this new measure, many questions remain: Will it be enough to stop the scammers? Will families recover the lost money? What more can authorities do to protect beneficiaries?
Meanwhile, thousands of people remain vulnerable, with no clear answers and the fear that their next SNAP balance could vanish overnight.