More foodstamp fraud at the checkout.

[powderman]

Fraud at the Checkout Line    The expanding food stamp program that now "feeds" nearly 47 million Americans is rife with fraud, abuse and cronyism, according to a new study as reported by Breitbart:

Understaffed food stamp fraud prevention units and lax anti-fraud security on Electronic Benefit Transfer (EBT) cards have created a thriving underground market where food stamp recipients illegally sell and trade their taxpayer-funded benefits, often using online websites like Backpage.com, Craigslist, or social media. That is one of the findings of a new report by the Government Accountability Institute (GAI) examining how the poverty industry has become a massive profit center for politically-connected corporations like JP Morgan, who have made at least $560,492,596 since 2004 to process the EBT cards of food stamp recipients in 24 states and two U.S. territories.

The fraud and abuse in this system must surely be worse than imagined, as there are clearly people that don't really need this assistance who, under Obama's relaxed policies, are now able to enter this expanding program. And they don't even need to sell or trade their EBT cards to benefit.

A few months back, while grocery shopping, I witnessed a prime example of such abuse. A young (able-bodied looking) couple was in the checkout line in front of me with a cart full of groceries. I noticed something interesting when they placed their items on the conveyer belt to be scanned. They first placed all of the food or household items down in one group and then put down a divider. On the other side of the divider they placed a couple of cases of beer and several large bottles of hard liquor. The couple then proceeded to pay for the food and household items wit an EBT card and then told the checker that they "had to" pay cash for the alcohol.

If what I witnessed was as it appeared, this couple obviously didn't need to be on taxpayer-funded assistance, being that alcohol isn't exactly necessary to sustain life (at least before Obama became President).

Unfortunately, I think the only thing rare or unusual about the above transactions was the possibility of seeing them take place side-by-side in real time. When someone is receiving food assistance that they really don't need, it frees up money that they should be using for food and other necessities. This "spare" cash can then be used for any number of luxury items that can't be found in a grocery store such as: furniture, flat-screen TV's, iPhones (if they don't already have a free Obamaphone), athletic shoes, or even payments on automobiles.

When all of these other items are purchased, you just don't get the luxury of seeing this normally silent fraud take place side-by-side in such an obvious fashion.

No wonder politicians are spending taxpayer money to get more people on food stamps. They aren't just buying food -- they're buying votes.


Read more: http://www.americanthinker.com/blog/...#ixzz29ncZzSGI 

[magooch]

It's very sad, but there's nothing really new about the food stamp deal; there's just a heck of a lot more of it now days.  I saw a young obviously well fed couple in the checkout line just ahead of me.  They paid for their over filled basket of goodies with food stamps and I couldn't help noticing that they left in a Cadillac.  This was at least 25 years ago.  It was fraud then and it's fraud now, but it is apparently alright with the government.

[wganz]

As far back as the the 1960's, the food stamp crowd bought shrimp from the store then used it as catfish bait.
 

[Ranger99]

it's nothing new. . . .
i see it every time i go grocery shopping.
only no one tries to hide it anymore.
the smaller stores give 25 on the dollar
for verboten items like smokes, alcohol,
or cash back. i've tried to point it out,
but it falls on deaf ears. too much money
involved to rock the boat. just pains me
when i have to struggle and  buy the bargain stuff
then see the folks talking on the i-phones with
a cart full of premium goods then whip
out the govt. card 

[powderman]

YEP, it's been going on many years but even worse with husseins advertising for folks to sign up and the obamaphones too. POWDERMAN. 

[subdjoe]

As one who has been on food stamps for about a year before I finally got a job at ten bucks an hour (and my wife is still unable to work), at which point our amount was cut in half, I know that kind of thing would be rare.  With the example of booze - did maybe someone give them cash to buy it for them?  Or maybe someone sent them money for a birthday or anniversary so they decided to splurge just a bit.  I'll tell ya, every now and then you need that splurge to feel human.

Sometimes, because of the way it works, you end up having to spend more for something.  For example, you can't buy a rotisserie chicken at a market with food stamps.  Many stores that sell the rotisserie fully cooked chickens often have them at a greatly reduced price at the end of the day - say a fully cooked whole chicken for $2.99 (or less).  A very good deal.  But, because it was ready to eat, can't buy it.  Could buy a raw chicken of about the same size for about $5.50 though.  Can't take advantage of specials on deli lunch meat at about $2.99/lb, but can buy packaged lunch meats in the cold deli section of the supermarket for about $6/lb.   One of my favorite examples - could buy pork rinds, two bucks for a standard 3 oz bag, couldn't buy fresh made chicharron con carne (deep fried pork belly that is about half meat and half skin/fat - not a bad thing if you are following an Atkins type diet) at the Mexican deli for $4/lb.

So, while it is all great fun to bitch and whine about how almost everyone of food stamps is a cheat, or a lazy bum who is playing the system, reality is somewhat different.  Yeah, there is some fraud.  There are people involved so there will always be some.  And sometimes you will see people on them buying non-essential, or even what might be considered a luxury item (see the shrimp example above - I bet with that pound or two of shrimp, likely bought on special for a total of maybe $10, that person was able to haul in about $50 worth of catfish fillets.  Feed the family for a week.  Not a bad deal overall, is it?).  Even before I needed food stamps myself I didn't begrudge a few "splurges" to people using them.  I've had to get by on rice, lentils, and cornmeal myself, with maybe some pork shoulder (on special for a buck a pound) or bacon ends (again, on special at about $1.29/lb) for months at a time.  Having a little something that feels like a "splurge" in the evening does wonders for ones mental attitude and can be the difference between going on one more day or crashing, going on anti-depressants and even more assistance.

But, what the hell, let's cut off food stamps so we can overpay defense contractors!

[magooch]

But, what the hell, let's cut off food stamps so we can overpay defense contractors!

Good idea.

[powderman]

So, while it is all great fun to bitch and whine about how almost everyone of food stamps is a cheat, or a lazy bum who is playing the system, reality is somewhat different.

 
JOE. I believe the majority of those receiving FS are truly needy. We take food to an 80 yr old  neighbor to help her out, she only gets $65 a mo in food stamps. I also know a guy and his shackup with 1 kid getting over $400 a month FS. Some folks need help but don't get it because they are honest, others milk the system by being dishonest. A woman I know sells, or rents her FS card every month for cash, 50 cents on the $. She gets cash, the renter uses the card til next month.
 
Unfortunately obama has used this to buy votes by encouraging folks to sign up. Honest folks who need help should be able to get it, some do, some don't. Theres no shame in needing or accepting help for those actually in need. For others it encourages them to sit on their duffs instead of paying their own way. POWDERMAN. 

[Anna]

Illegals are the ones that will end up causing this system to go broke more than any other group i   have seen . Granted , there are people out there that truly need this system to survive .
Those are the ones that are also not hard to pick out , they have no car , usually in their 50s , living with relatives,and many of them have been denied any welfare or disability compensation other than
food stamps. Then there are the others we are talking about here , we had one that was from Guatemala who was milking the system for over $2,800.00 a month before food stamps . 

With only two children who were anchor baby's from different fathers , she was claiming four and got
away with it because she knew the case worker or had paid them off . She owned an Escalade and was living in some very nice section eight housing. The thing that got her busted was that her live in boyfriend was dealing drugs , lots of drugs! The police estimated their combined income had to be well over $10,000.00 a month. So at least the police in most cases are watching for this,you do not
live this extravagantly without something being very wrong .

[Ranger99]

i don't recall seeing here where anyone said
that all who take public assistance were crooked.
there are plenty who are though , and i have seen
it, and it does happen a lot. i have a friend who was
injured and him, his wife and family had to get on
food stamps until he recovered enough to go back
to work. they didn't buy booze , tobacco , or take
out food. those are luxuries, not necessities. the
ones i see get "help"at the store when the clerk scans
a can of vegetables or soup or whatever several
times, then hands them a pack of smokes and
they go on their way.there are other ways they do
this also. a friend who'd worked full time since
he was sixteen had a massive diabetic stroke and
heart attack and couldn't go to the john without
help couldn't get disability or proper medical care
because of so many cheats we have taking advantage
of our nation's benefits. the system was created as
a hand up, not a hand out, and will likely soon be broke
because of the takers. i guess i'm just a bad person
when i look at someone playing the system and
i don't feel remorse or compassion for them and
turn around and know of folks that need help and
can't get it because of the overload of entitlers.

[Anna]

Spot on Ranger, the sad thing about all of this is the ones who get the least amount of help.
If any, are the ones who have worked their entire lives paying into the system .

[Sourdough]

I go to a rather exclusive Gym/Health Club.  It's expensive to be a member there, and definitely not a place someone on food stamps should be a member of.  I was sitting in the hallway outside the ladies locker room waiting for my wife when a young woman looking to be about 25 or so came along.  She was talking on her cell and I overheard her telling someone she did not have the money to pay right now.  Her food stamps would not be in till next week and she could pay then.  Then she turned and saw me sitting there and that I could overhear her conversation.  She got a panicked look on her face and ducked inside the locker room.

OK my question is what is she doing with her food stamps, selling them?  When she came into the club she flashed a club card to gain access.  If she is a member why is she drawing food stamps?

It's too easy to get food stamps anyway.  When I first retired from the Air Force, I was drawing a retirement check.  Granted not a lot but enough to pay for Groceries.  My wife was still on active duty, she was an E-6.  She drew her base pay, Cost Of Living Allowance (COLA), and her Variable Housing Allowance (VHA).  When we were looking for a Day Care Facility for our New Born Son, she was told and encouraged to apply for Food Stamps.  She was told with her pay grade and two dependents she qualified for Public Assistance.  She was told this again when she went to have the Electricity for the house we were renting switched over into her name.  And at the Gas Company.  She thought it rediculous that we should be elligiable for Food Stamps and WIC when we both were making money and able to support the family comfortably.  Then I went to work as a Cashier at the Base Commissary.  I could not believe the people I checked out that were using Food Stamps and WIC certificates.  Both active duty and retired people.  People I know that made just as much or more than I and my wife did, and we did not need it.

[ironglow]

  I think Joe should be assured, we don't think ALL using food stamps are undeserving..certainly many of them are. However, those who don't really need them and do not use them honestly should be shamed and ashamed.
  I can tell you this however; I live in a very small hamlet where everybody knows everybody.  About 98% are fine, upstanding people..some of them using food stamps...they are being honest with them, and the churches help them some also.
  The other 2% are on food stamps..and whatever other freebees they can get..they still get beer and smoke cigarettes..and I suspect smoke other stuff also..
  How ridiculous the food stamp program can be..  In the last 6 months, my wife and I were offered food stamps (or EBT card) by both our state and the federal governments..  They were placed in the round file..and off to the landfill.  We do not need them!  Other friends in similar situations have done the same..but I womnder just how many in similar circumstances have gone ahead and are sucking swill from the public trough..