Posted on 06/03/22
| News Source: FOX45
Maryland’s Department of Human Services says fraudsters are skimming data off benefit cards and there have been dozens of victims in just the last month.
Between May 9th and May 25th, DHS says it received 48 compromised benefit complaints from Marylanders enrolled in SNAP or TCA.
“To know that we’ve all been put in a horrible position -- it just really sucks,” said Gillespie.
A spokesperson for Maryland DHS says they are working with other state and federal agencies to hopefully catch and prosecute whoever is responsible.
The Department of Human Services is working in conjunction with the USDA Office of the Inspector General (OIG), the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services OIG, and our Department of Human Services OIG, as well as the Office of the Attorney General for our Department of Human Services, in order to investigate this and hopefully catch and prosecute the offenders. Additionally, our Department has embarked on an educational awareness campaign to inform our recipients to be mindful of where they swipe and to pay close attention to the devices themselves, along with tips and steps they can take to protect their cards.
Despite families relying on the benefits for necessities, the state is not replacing stolen benefits.