BISMARCK, N.D. \u2013 The North Dakota Department of Human Services is alerting Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) households about a telephone scam that is targeting program benefits. The program helps qualifying low-income households buy food.<\/p>\n
In the telephone scam, a caller indicates that an individual or household will lose their SNAP benefits because he or she owes the program money. The caller provides a telephone number the individual should call to pay back the money using a credit card or another form of payment.<\/p>\n
Michele Gee, director of the Economic Assistance Policy Division for the North Dakota Department of Human Services said, \u201cHouseholds that qualify for SNAP would never receive a telephone call about an overpayment or potential case closure.\u201d<\/p>\n
Gee said that SNAP households should not call the number provided in the telephone scam.<\/p>\n
SNAP households should notify their county social service office if they receive any of these scam calls relating to SNAP benefits. County contact information is online at www.nd.gov\/dhs\/locations\/countysocialserv\/<\/a>.<\/p>\n Program benefits are placed on an electronic benefit transfer (EBT) card. Qualifying households use EBT cards to purchase food at approved grocers, participating farmers markets and other vendors.<\/p>\n In August 2019, SNAP served about 48,000 qualifying low-income North Dakotans. The federally-funded program tends to serve mainly low-income children, often in single-parent families, people with disabilities, and seniors on fixed incomes.<\/p>\n