International crime ring steals from SNAP recipients

TULSA, Okla. – Oklahoma Human Services, commonly 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 about debit card depletion from SNAP card recipients.

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

In October, requests for help increased by 46%, which she said was due to the number of scammers.

“To meet demand, staffing is becoming more dispersed,” said Executive Director Nathan Woodmansee, who is also the organization’s only full-time employee.

Woodmansee says he has heard endless complaints about hacked cards. A woman had to leave the supermarket checkout with a shopping cart full of groceries.

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

DHS Special Agent in Charge Michael Adams says this skimming scam has been a problem since 2022 but increased in October.

“The perpetrators are part of an international crime ring that travels the country placing these skimmers at various gas stations and grocery stores,” he said.

The skimmers collect data so criminals can create a clone card with the stolen money on it. Investigators recently seized several of the devices in Tulsa, Oklahoma City, Enid and Blanchard.

“We continually leverage tools like facial recognition and lead discovery,” Adams said. “It’s a constant battle as this group moves from one state to the next.”

Chip cards will be available to Oklahomans next summer as part of a pilot program. In the meantime, authorities recommend recipients change the PIN on the card and check the account regularly.

Recipients are also advised to download the Connect EBT app. It allows cardholders to lock the card when not in use, preventing fraudsters from accessing the money. You can find step-by-step instructions here.

Woodmansee says many of its customers have had difficulty getting refunds. DHS says it could take 21 days or longer to receive the refund because there is currently a backlog of complaints.

SNAP recipients who lost benefits due to theft have until December 20, 2024 to apply for replacement of stolen benefits. Claims can be submitted to Oklahoma Human Services by telephone at 405-522-5050, in person at a Human Services Center, or by mail. SNAP, PO Box 25352, Oklahoma City, OK 73125.

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