Skip to main content
U.S. flag
An official website of the United States Government.
Dot gov

Official websites use .gov
A .gov website belongs to an official government organization in the United States.

SSL

Secure .gov websites use HTTPS
A lock (LockA locked padlock) or https:// means you’ve safely connected to the .gov website. Share sensitive information only on official, secure websites.

USDA-FNS
  • COVID-19
  • Contact Us
  • Report Fraud
  • Ask USDA
  • USDA.gov
USDA-FNS
  • Home
    • Data & Research
    • Research & Analysis
    • Program Data
    • Child Nutrition Tables
    • Food Distribution Program Tables
    • SNAP Tables
    • Puerto Rico NAP Tables
    • WIC Data Tables
    • Grants
    • Financial Management
    • Newsroom
    • Federal Register Documents
    • Farm Bill
    • FNS Press Releases
    • Notice to Stakeholders
    • FNS Infographics
    • FNS Blogs
    • USDA Press Releases
    • USDA Blogs
    • Webinars & Videos
    • Contact FNS Press Office
    • Resources
    • Fact Sheets
    • Federal Register
    • Guidance Documents
    • Policy Memos
    • Videos/Webinars
    • All Resources
    • Our Agency
    • Our Deputy Under Secretary
    • Contact us
    • Civil Rights
    • Core Nutrition Messages
    • FNS Partnerships
    • Freedom of Information Act
    • FNS Human Resources
    • State Systems Office
    • Programs
    • Child and Adult Care Food Program
    • Center for Nutrition Policy and Promotion
    • Community Food Systems
    • Commodity Supplemental Food Program
    • Farmers Market Nutrition Program
    • FNS Disaster Assistance
    • Food Distribution Program on Indian Reservations
    • Fresh Fruit and Vegetable Program
    • Food Safety
    • NAP Block Grants
    • National School Lunch Program
    • School Breakfast Program
    • Senior Farmers' Market Nutrition Program
    • SNAP
    • Special Milk Program
    • Summer Food Service Program
    • Team Nutrition
    • TEFAP
    • USDA Foods in Schools
    • WIC
Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP)

Scam Alerts

Breadcrumb

  1. Home
  2. Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP)
  • Home
  • Data & Research
  • Grants
  • Newsroom
  • Resources
  • Our Agency
  • Programs

Resources

  • Policy
  • Technical Assistance & Guidance
  • Research, Analysis & Background

The following are informative reports concerning scams.

SNAP Websites Scam Alert, 2/8/2021

EnglishBe aware of websites that mention food stamps and promise monthly payments. Do not share your personal information with links provided through email. These links will take you to different websites, which may share your personal information in exchange for food stamps information.

If you have questions about SNAP, visit our website. If you do not know if a website about SNAP is real or not, contact your local SNAP office.

If you receive an email that you think is a scam, do not reply at all. Just delete.

SpanishTenga en cuenta los sitios web que mencionan cupones de alimentos y prometen pagos mensuales. No comparta su información personal con enlaces proporcionados a través de correo electrónico. Estos enlaces lo llevarán a diferentes sitios web, que pueden compartir su información personal inapropiadamente a cambio de información de cupones de alimentos.

Si tienes alguna pregunta sobre SNAP, visite nuestro sitio web. Si no sabe si un sitio web sobre SNAP es verdadero o no, póngase en contacto con su oficina local de SNAP.

Si recibe un correo electrónico que cree que es una estafa, no responda en absoluto. Simplemente elimínelo.

 
On-Line Guides, 11/13/2020

Please be aware of websites that ask for your information in exchange for online guides. They may share your information with outside sources. Do not share any kind of personal information with these types of websites.

If you have questions about SNAP eligibility, visit our eligibility website. If you do not know if a website about SNAP is real or not, contact your local SNAP office.

If you receive an email that you think is a scam, do not reply at all. Just delete.

 
Possible SNAP Phishing Scam, 9/10/2020

Be aware of a scam using texting to obtain your personal information. The text might say you were chosen to receive food stamps or SNAP. If you do not know if a request for information about SNAP is real or not, contact your local SNAP office.

Never share personal information with individuals or organizations that you do not know. Personal information includes your social security number, bank information, or SNAP electronic benefits transfer card or PIN number.

If you think the text is a scam, do not reply at all. Just delete.

 

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:

  1. Report concerns to the Federal Trade Commission (FTC). They are the federal authority which handles text message spam.
  2. 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.
  3. 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/.

 

Spammers Sending Unsolicited Text Messages Referencing Food Stamps
  • Benefits stolen from store accounts
  • Beneficios robados de las cuentas de la tienda
02/08/2021
  • Home
  • Data & Research
  • Grants
  • Newsroom
  • Resources
  • Our Agency
  • Programs
  • USDA
  • USA.gov
  • WhiteHouse.gov
  • FNS PartnerWeb.gov
  • No Fear Act
  • Privacy Policy
  • Non-Discrimination Statement
  • Civil Rights
  • FOIA
  • Information Quality
  • Peer Review
  • Accessibility

Sign up for Updates

USDA-FNS
  • Twitter
  • Facebook
  • Gov Delivery
  • Instagram
  • Flickr
  • Youtube