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Here's a strange scenario that recently happened to me for the first time-
About a week ago I was shopping late at the grocery store (it was 10:45 and the store closes at 11), so I was hurrying through the aisles quickly trying to find items, but idled for a while in the coffee aisle.
A skinny homeless man (he looked to be 20- or 30-something) approached me. He smelled badly but was polite and well-spoken.
After greeting me and apologizing for the interruption he said 'Could I make a deal with you? I'll pay for your groceries with my EBT card and you give me the cash equivalent.' I had to stop and think for a bit on what exactly he was asking for.
When it dawned on me that he just wanted cash, I said I had no cash and planned to pay for my groceries with debit card. He said, 'But you could get a cash advance from the debit card.'
I said 'I don't think that's a good idea. I'm sorry.' He nodded and said, 'Okay thanks anyway' and walked away.
Is this a common scam? Is it considered food stamp fraud? Should I have told the manager what happened?
There are many homeless people who sell their food stamp card money for cash. They get free food at homeless shelters and churches and do not need it. For instance if your grocery bill will come to $75 they may offer to pay for it with their EBT card in exchange for much less than that in cash. That way you win and they win. Do you see?
There are many homeless people who sell their food stamp card money for cash. They get free food at homeless shelters and churches and do not need it. For instance if your grocery bill will come to $75 they may offer to pay for it with their EBT card in exchange for much less than that in cash. That way you win and they win. Do you see?
It's a hustle and it's fraud. You also should not be opening up your wallet around someone like this. They can see whats in your wallet, Things like how much $$ you have, CC numbers and your address worst of all.
If this guy wanted to purchase my groceries for a "Tip" i would be more than happy to oblige.
As far as the OP buying groceries w Debit Card, let me ask you a question.
What's the benefit of buying groceries w card when you can just go to a bank and withdraw cash and not have your spending histories tracked?
When you walk into that grocery store, you're on video. If someone really wants to track you, they already are.
You think that when you go to the bank to withdraw money there is no record of it? So all you avoid is being tracked by the grocery store but that is worse than being tracked at the ATM or bank?
Either way, where you were at a point in time is tracked.
Food stamps are for FOOD....and they need to go back to the actual "stamps"...this is OUR tax money being spent nothings other than what it's intended for. It's shameful how folks are spending our hard-earned money on gambling, hookers, drugs and alcohol, because of the "debit card" nature of food stamps and welfare money.
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