How to Report Food Stamp Fraud
Gather information about the activity., Learn what constitutes fraud., Contact the USDA Office of the Inspector General., Cooperate with the investigators in any follow-up.
Step-by-Step Guide
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Step 1: Gather information about the activity.
Before you report your suspicions, make sure you have sufficient details to ensure an effective investigation.
Helpful information to include in your report includes the names and addresses of individuals involved, the name and contact information of any retailer involved, and the specific acts you believe are fraudulent.For example, if you start a new job at a convenience store and observe a co-worker exchanging cash for a customer's EBT card, this act typically meets the definition of fraud. -
Step 2: Learn what constitutes fraud.
Having a basic understanding of fraudulent and abusive activity can keep you from making false accusations.
Retailers may be guilty of fraud if employees knowingly buy SNAP benefits for cash, or if they sell food in exchange for SNAP benefits that is ineligible for the program.For example, employees of a Detroit liquor store were found guilty of fraud when they traded alcohol, pornographic magazines, drugs and cash in exchange for food stamps.
The store was shut down after receiving more than $130,000 in fraudulent revenue for more than two years., The OIG primarily investigates suspicions of large-scale fraud, rather than individual fraud.
You can contact the OIG by calling 1-800-424-9121 and file a fraud report of any kind.The OIG also accepts fraud reports by email to [email protected], or you can write out the details of your report and mail it to United States Department of Agriculture Office of the Inspector General, PO Box 23399, Washington, DC 20026-3399.If you contact the OIG, you may give your name and contact information, or you may remain anonymous.
You also may choose to have your name kept confidential, which means your name will be known to the OIG investigators but not to anyone else., After you file your initial report, the investigators may have further questions for you as they proceed with their investigation.
If you remain anonymous, investigators will not be able to contact you.
For this reason, the OIG recommends that you choose confidentiality if you don't want the person or company you reported to know that you reported them.
Confidentiality allows the OIG to contact you if the investigators need more information to act on your report. -
Step 3: Contact the USDA Office of the Inspector General.
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Step 4: Cooperate with the investigators in any follow-up.
Detailed Guide
Before you report your suspicions, make sure you have sufficient details to ensure an effective investigation.
Helpful information to include in your report includes the names and addresses of individuals involved, the name and contact information of any retailer involved, and the specific acts you believe are fraudulent.For example, if you start a new job at a convenience store and observe a co-worker exchanging cash for a customer's EBT card, this act typically meets the definition of fraud.
Having a basic understanding of fraudulent and abusive activity can keep you from making false accusations.
Retailers may be guilty of fraud if employees knowingly buy SNAP benefits for cash, or if they sell food in exchange for SNAP benefits that is ineligible for the program.For example, employees of a Detroit liquor store were found guilty of fraud when they traded alcohol, pornographic magazines, drugs and cash in exchange for food stamps.
The store was shut down after receiving more than $130,000 in fraudulent revenue for more than two years., The OIG primarily investigates suspicions of large-scale fraud, rather than individual fraud.
You can contact the OIG by calling 1-800-424-9121 and file a fraud report of any kind.The OIG also accepts fraud reports by email to [email protected], or you can write out the details of your report and mail it to United States Department of Agriculture Office of the Inspector General, PO Box 23399, Washington, DC 20026-3399.If you contact the OIG, you may give your name and contact information, or you may remain anonymous.
You also may choose to have your name kept confidential, which means your name will be known to the OIG investigators but not to anyone else., After you file your initial report, the investigators may have further questions for you as they proceed with their investigation.
If you remain anonymous, investigators will not be able to contact you.
For this reason, the OIG recommends that you choose confidentiality if you don't want the person or company you reported to know that you reported them.
Confidentiality allows the OIG to contact you if the investigators need more information to act on your report.
About the Author
Heather Patel
Committed to making practical skills accessible and understandable for everyone.
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