How fraudsters are stealing millions in electronic food stamp benefits

Atlanta News First

Families who’ve had their food benefits stolen are now finding out there’s no money left to replace them after federal funds to reimburse stolen benefits ended in December, and the fraud is increasing at an alarming rate.

An Atlanta News First investigation found thieves are swiping millions in federal taxpayer dollars, while families across the country go hungry, and there’s no mandatory plan in place to make the cards more secure.

Salaam Bhatti of the Food Research and Action Center in Washington, D.C., speaks with Atlanta News First investigative reporter Anastassia Olmos on why electronic benefit transfer cards are easy to hack, and what needs to be done to protect against theft.