Food stamp fraud doubles...

The food stamp program has always been plagued by fraud. The reported numbers are likely only the tip of the iceberg. About 50 million people receive food stamp benefits and there are 200,000 locations nationwide where you can use these EBT debit cards. Nationwide, there were 40 federal fraud investigators in 2011. Local and state officials don't usually investigate food stamp fraud. Frankly speaking, it's federal money and they are glad to have it spent in their states or localities. If fraud is involved, it's not their problem. Here is a story about rampant food stamp fraud in Seattle. This is not an abnormality. This situation is repeated at hundreds, if not thousands, of locations nationally.

Via CNS News:

In 2012, a U.S. Department of Agriculture official said that food stamp fraud totals $750 million each year – a number that more than doubles the cost of trafficking reported in a 2006- 2008 USDA study.

Kevin Concannon, U.S. Department of Agriculture undersecretary for food, nutrition and consumer services, told the Huffington Post last year that food stamp fraud totals around $750 million each year.

The $750 million number is more than double the amount in total dollars of fraud detected annually in a 2006-2008 study on trafficking – a type of fraud that involves selling Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits to food retailers for cents on the dollar.

I have a close relative that works in the grocery business.  Sometimes people will try to by pet food, which is not allowed, on the EBT cards. One recipient got angry and went back and bought his dog steak. That is allowed. There is something seriously wrong with hardworking Americans, who pay their own way, eating hamburger while food stamp recipients buy Filet Mignon.There is a tobacco discount store near my house. They recently put up a sign saying they accept EBT cards now. I assume it's not for tobacco products, but the edible stuff they sell is mostly all junk food.