NEW YORK (WABC) — A group of defendants accused of operating what prosecutors described as a “fraud factory” stole more than $7 million in SNAP benefits by repeatedly using stolen EBT card information, according to the Manhattan District Attorney’s Office.
Prosecutors allege the scheme targeted low-income New Yorkers who rely on food assistance benefits, draining funds intended to help them buy food. Authorities say the stolen benefits were converted into cash and used to purchase luxury vehicles.
“They were people who were going to withdraw funds using an EBT card and the money was gone,” a law enforcement official said.
According to court documents, the defendants are accused of conspiring to “steal more than $7 million” by “using the names of existing or fictitious delis to obtain credit card and EBT processing accounts.”
Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg said investigators…
These frauds exploit emotional vulnerability and trust rather than technical weaknesses.
- Romance Scams: Scammers build long-term online relationships with victims, eventually fabricating a “crisis” (medical emergency, legal trouble, or travel costs) that requires the victim to send money.
- Pig Butchering: A hybrid scam where the criminal builds a romantic or platonic relationship to eventually “tutor” the victim in a fraudulent cryptocurrency investment.