In Ohio, the skyrocketing cost of groceries has taken a devastating turn as fraudsters target the state’s Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), stealing millions from those who rely on it to feed their families. The Ohio Department of Job and Family Services (ODJFS) has confirmed to ABC6 On Your Side Problem Solvers that nearly $7 million has been siphoned from the accounts of SNAP recipients since October 2022, highlighting a significant vulnerability in the state’s benefits system.
One such victim is Erica McAllister, a mother from Columbus, who experienced a heartbreaking loss this past September when thieves drained $1,500 from her benefits. “At one point, I was donating plasma, and we just used that for groceries,” McAllister recalled. “We depend on this every month for a reason. It’s to feed us. It’s a necessity. Without it, I wouldn’t be able to survive. My kids would be taken.”
For McAllister and many others in Ohio, SNAP benefits aren’t a luxury—they are a lifeline. Unfortunately, with the increasing number of fraudulent transactions, many recipients are finding their balances wiped out when they attempt to use their cards.
According to ODJFS, fraud is particularly rampant due to the outdated security of SNAP cards. While other states, like California and Oklahoma, are preparing to introduce chip-enabled cards, Ohio has decided against the move, citing the projected $15 million cost of upgrading the system. This decision has left SNAP cardholders vulnerable to theft, as the current cards are equipped only with a magnetic strip, which is easier to exploit than a more secure chip system.
Deborah Kaun, another Ohio resident affected by the fraud, shared her emotional reaction to the theft. “I was so emotional when I realized my food was gone. It felt like it was taken right out of my mouth,” she said, describing how her $200 in benefits were stolen. Kaun, who lives on a fixed income, made the difficult decision not to pay her water bill to ensure she could still buy food for her family. “I never dreamed it would happen to me,” she added, her voice trembling.
Since the summer, the Problem Solvers team has received a surge of calls from Ohio residents reporting similar fraud cases. Nearly 12,000 SNAP cardholders have been affected by fraudulent activity, leaving many families in distress and questioning how their basic needs will be met.
Ohio officials have urged SNAP recipients to take precautions, such as changing their PINs after every transaction, but for many, these measures haven’t been enough. McAllister, for example, has been changing her PIN monthly, yet still faced the loss of her benefits.
While the state is facing a tough decision about how to secure the SNAP program, the human cost of inaction is clear. Many recipients, like McAllister and Kaun, feel powerless as they struggle to make ends meet in the face of both soaring grocery prices and the theft of their benefits.
The ongoing crisis has brought attention to the need for greater protection for Ohio’s most vulnerable residents, yet the state remains divided on how to balance security upgrades with financial responsibility. As the debate continues, the urgency to act grows. For many Ohioans, the stakes could not be higher.
