International crime ring steals from SNAP recipients

Tulsa, Okla. – Oklahoma Human Services, known as the Department of Human Services (DHS), typically receives 200 skimming or fraud complaints per month.

In October alone, the agency received 10,000 complaints from SNAP card recipients that their debit cards were maxed out.

Sand Springs Community Services is a food pantry that serves several hundred residents a month.

In October, the number of requests for help increased by 46%, they believe, due to the number of people deceived.

“The workforce is increasingly stretched by necessity,” said executive director Nathan Woodmansee, who is also the organization’s only full-time employee.

Woodmansee says he’s heard endless complaints about hacked cards. One woman had to leave the grocery store checkout with a cart of food.

“They told us they had no choice but to drop everything and come here,” he said.

DHS Special Agent in Charge Michael Adams says skimming scams have been a problem since 2022, but increased in scope in October.

“The criminals are members of an international crime ring that travels around the country and places skimmers at various gas stations and grocery stores,” he said.

Skimmers collect data for criminals to create a clone of a card containing stolen money. Investigators recently discovered several devices in Tulsa, Oklahoma City, Enid and Blanchard.

“We use tools like facial recognition and lead generation all the time,” Adams said. “It’s a constant battle as this group moves from one state to another.”

The chip cards will be available to Oklahoma residents next summer as part of a pilot program. In the meantime, authorities recommend that recipients change their card PIN and check their accounts more often.

Recipients are also encouraged to download the Connect EBT app. This allows cardholders to lock the card when not in use, protecting fraudsters from accessing their money. Here’s a step-by-step way to do it.

Woodmansee says many of his clients have had trouble getting refunds. DHS says it may take 21 days or longer to receive refunds due to the backlog of complaints.

SNAP recipients who lost benefits due to theft have until December 20, 2024, to apply to replace their stolen benefits. Claims can be filed by calling 405-522-5050, in person at the Human Services Center, or by writing to Oklahoma Human Services, SNAP, PO Box 25352, Oklahoma City, OK 73125.

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