Scam Alerts
The following are informative reports concerning scams.
COVID-19 Potential Fraud Scam Alert, 3/24/2020
Please be aware that unscrupulous individuals may use COVID-19 as an opportunity to create a scam in order to steal your personal information. FNS has already received at least one report of a potential scam targeting Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) participants. While many organizations are seeking to help communities respond to COVID-19, please be careful with any unknown individual or organization that requests your confidential information. Examples of confidential information include your social security number, bank information, or your SNAP EBT card or PIN number.
If you are unsure if a request for information is legitimate, please contact your local SNAP office. If you do not know your local SNAP office, you can find your state’s contact information at https://www.fns.usda.gov/snap/state-directory
If you believe you are the victim of identity theft, contact your local police department regarding procedures for filing a report. You may also file a consumer complaint online with the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) at https://www.ftc.gov. FTC is the federal agency responsible for protecting consumers from identity theft scams.
Spammers Sending Unsolicited Text Messages Referencing Food Stamps, 4/4/2018
In Minnesota, there have been reports of text messages referencing “food stamps” that offer work-at-home opportunities. Be aware that these types of unsolicited text messages are not just spam. They are likely scams. Here is some helpful information about text message spam:
- Report concerns to the Federal Trade Commission (FTC). They are the federal authority which handles text message spam.
- AARP also advises on how to handle text message spam. Sometimes the scam is to get you to respond, confirming your number is live. Once confirmed, the scammer submits unauthorized charges to your cell bill. Therefore, do not “opt out” or “unsubscribe.” Ignore.
- In Minnesota, the attorney general’s office is responsible for this type of fraud. It accepts reports of text spam concerns.
SNAP Toll-Free Hotline Number Spoofed By External Entity, 8/21/2015
There have been reports of the general public receiving unsolicited calls from what appears to be the SNAP toll-free information hotline number: 1-800-221-5689. The unsolicited callers are requesting personal information, offering to assist filling out a SNAP application, or calling about other non-SNAP related services, such as home security systems. Never provide personal information or your credit card number over the phone to unsolicited callers.
Whoever is impersonating the SNAP toll-free information hotline number is not affiliated with the Food and Nutrition Service (FNS) or SNAP.
If you suspect you are receiving illegitimate calls from 1-800-221-5689, please file a complaint with the FCC.
If you have already fallen victim to this scam or a similar one, please visit: http://www.ftc.gov/bcp/edu/microsites/idtheft/ for more information on identity theft.
Scammers Offering Assistance to SNAP Retail Stores for a Fee, 8/21/2015
There have been reports of retailers receiving calls that offer them help obtaining SNAP authorization. In most instances, the retailer has recently submitted their SNAP Retailer Application and the scammer is offering to quicken the SNAP authorization process for a fee. Never provide personal information or your credit card number to unsolicited callers. SNAP does not charge a fee for processing your retailer application. No one outside of SNAP has the ability to quicken the application process. Any request for information about you or your business will come via an official letter from USDA after you have filed an application. If you are uncertain about any request regarding your application to become a SNAP retailer, contact the SNAP Retailer Service Center at 877-823-4369.
If you have already fallen victim to this scam or a similar one, please visit: http://www.ftc.gov/bcp/edu/microsites/idtheft/ for more information on identity theft.
Scammers Offer Phony SNAP Application Assistance, 12/16/2013
There have been reports of individuals placing ads on the internet offering to assist with SNAP applications. Sometimes these ads are even located on the side of legitimate articles.
These ads will take you to another website where you may be asked to provide personal information, including credit card information. Do NOT provide this information. The scammer will make unauthorized purchases on your credit card and/or gain access to your bank accounts.
If you see any ad on the internet offering SNAP application assistance, don’t click it. It is a scam. Never provide any personal information, including credit card information on an unsecure website. SNAP employees or service providers will never ask you for credit card information. If it is not on your state agency application, they will not ask for it.
If you have already fallen victim to this scam or a similar one, contact your credit card company immediately. You may also choose to file a police report. For more information on identity theft, please visit: http://www.ftc.gov/bcp/edu/microsites/idtheft/.