WASHINGTON—Today, the Subcommittee on Delivering on Government Efficiency held a hearing on “Combating Waste, Fraud, and Abuse in SNAP.” During the hearing, members examined the root causes of waste, fraud, and abuse within Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP). The hearing also explored reforms and oversight measures that would strengthen SNAP program integrity, safeguard taxpayer dollars, and ensure benefits are directed to eligible recipients.
Key Takeaways:
The Government Accountability Office has repeatedly identified weaknesses in SNAP administration that leave the food assistance program vulnerable to fraud, improper payments, and eligibility errors.
- U.S. Department of Agriculture Inspector General John Walk testified that, “Criminals use skimming technology to capture information such as the card number and pin code. The data captured is then used to clone the…
This remains the most prevalent form of financial crime globally. It targets the direct access points to your money: your cards and your bank accounts.
- Skimming: Criminals use small devices called “skimmers” placed over ATM or point-of-sale card slots to capture the data from your card’s magnetic strip.
- Card-Not-Present (CNP) Fraud: This occurs during online shopping where a physical card isn’t required. Thieves use stolen card numbers, expiry dates, and CVV codes to make unauthorized purchases.
- Account Takeover (ATO): A hacker gains access to your online banking credentials (often through malware or phishing) and changes the contact details or passwords, locking you out while they drain your funds.