OUR OPINION: New way to fight food-stamp fraud

[TexasTowelie]

SAN ANGELO, Texas — The federal food stamp program, administered by the U.S. Department of Agriculture, is perhaps the nation's most important nutrition program.

At an annual cost of $75 billion, food stamps helped feed 46.2 million Americans last year.

Unfortunately, the program is afflicted by a persistent and resilient form of fraud that undercuts its intent and credibility with the broader public.

Crooked retailers encourage food stamp recipients to trade their benefits for cash or ineligible merchandise such as liquor and tobacco, at a substantial markup. The recipient swipes the USDA benefit card and punches in a PIN number, as with a debit card. The government or a participating bank reimburses the retailer for the full price of what has been represented as legal merchandise.

http://www.gosanangelo.com/news/2012/mar/03/our-opinion-new-way-to-fight-food-stamp-fraud/?partner=popular