**Fraudsters Stole About $320 Million in SNAP Benefits Over 2-Year Period: GAO**
*Just the News* | September 27, 2025, 10:12 PM | Nicholas Ballasy
Posted by E. Pluribus Unum
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A new report from the Government Accountability Office (GAO) reveals that fraudsters stole approximately $320 million in Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits over a two-year period. The theft occurred between October 2022 and December 2024 across 52 states, affecting nearly 679,000 households.
The GAO report highlights that the total scale of SNAP benefit theft is likely understated, as states are not required to report every instance of fraud. Consequently, many thefts go undisclosed.
The report calls on the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) to strengthen its efforts in assessing how states implement security measures designed to prevent SNAP benefit theft on electronic benefit transfer (EBT) cards.
States employ a variety of tools recommended by USDA’s Food and Nutrition Service (FNS) to curb theft, but the GAO noted that many of these measures rely on SNAP recipients to take action. This reliance on individual effort may limit the effectiveness and widespread use of such protections.
### Methods of SNAP Benefit Theft
According to the GAO, criminals use several sophisticated methods to steal SNAP benefits, including:
– Card skimming and cloning
– Phishing and spoofing attacks designed to trick recipients into revealing personal information
– Impersonation of legitimate SNAP retailers to acquire sensitive data
– Use of automated bots to guess valid Personal Identification Number (PIN) combinations for accounts
During the two-year period, state SNAP agencies replaced more than $320 million in stolen benefits with federal funds. However, the GAO warns that benefits stolen on or after December 21, 2024, are no longer eligible for replacement by federal funds. This change could leave victims without the means to purchase food.
### Recommendations and Oversight
The GAO recommends that the Secretary of Agriculture ensure that the FNS continuously and comprehensively evaluates how well state SNAP agencies implement benefit theft prevention measures — including those recommended by USDA. This evaluation should help identify opportunities for improvement or additional support to reduce fraud.
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### Community Reactions (Selected Comments)
**Worldtraveler:**
“Just the News stories being posted only in the last days, the proper conclusion is that there has been wholesale looting of the nation by criminals easily playing the system.”
**Repeated the 17th Amendment:**
“In my opinion, the entire program is theft. The federal government has no business funding this.”
**Harmless Teddy Bear:**
“At this level of fraud, people need to be fired. Fire the people who designed a faulty system. Fire the people who should have been watching for fraud. But of course no one will be fired. However, bonuses might be reduced this year. So there’s that. As a side note, thank goodness for the people at the GAO. At least someone is paying attention.”
**Leaning Right:**
“How much ended up in Act Blue?”
**thinden:**
“Buckle up!”
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