Ms. Kirks, 70, knew that she had saved up a sizable sum in monthly benefits from the federal food assistance program, also known as the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, or SNAP.
To eat, she would buy food through a state program that permitted adults 60 and older, people with disabilities and homeless people to buy discount meals using their food stamps.
But the cashier at Albertsons was adamant: Ms. Kirks had only $6 in her account.
She immediately called the state agency that oversaw food benefits.
The criminals then use the information to create fake payment cards and steal money from victims’ accounts.
Persons:
Jackie Kirks’s, Kirks, ”, creamer
Organizations:
Albertsons, Assistance, SNAP
Locations:
Long Beach, Calif