Federal spending bill directs states to reimburse food stamp fraud victims

States must reimburse victims of food stamp hackers under the provisions of the $1.7 trillion federal appropriations bill passed this week.

The measure, which was added to the massive appropriations bill approved by Congress on Dec. 22, means state agencies will cover a rapidly expanding profit-stealing scheme.

AFRO reported on Baltimoreans affected by cybercrime this week. As of October 31, fraudsters in Maryland have looted more than $1 million in total from the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) and other federal assistance programs. That number is up from his $92,000 stolen in 2021, according to the Maryland Department of Human Services. Such thefts have surged nationwide this year. City officials said the funds could not be reversed, but federal assistance is on the way.

The law replenishes the electronic accounts of millions of recipients looted by hackers. Many of them are from low-income families.

Thieves use card skimmers, password fraud and other devices to steal money electronically, often minutes after rewards are loaded into a user’s account, according to consumer protection experts. .

Passage of the victim compensation bill “is a holiday miracle for so many families who have lost grocery money through no fault of their own,” said California Congressman Dutch Ruppersberger, D-Md. .) said.

Representatives whose constituencies include Timonium sponsored an amendment that would require states to recover stolen money “via care skimming, card cloning, or similar deceptive methods.” All but five states have denied official responses to victims’ complaints.

“SNAP theft is a vile crime that preys on the most vulnerable among us, and many of these victims are thrilled that this law will complete them,” Ruppersberger said. Said.

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