Food Stamp Fraud … Individuals Selling Food Stamps for Cash on Craigslist

Barack Obama, the food stamp president, it appears the program is rife with fraud.

CAN YOU SAY FOOD STAMP FRAUD? Isn’t this special, as the United States has record number of people on food stamps it appears that many are turning the government hand out and your tax dollars into a way to make some quick cash on Craigslist.   Food stamps are not supposed to be transferred or resold, and the Craigslist’s policy actually lists them among the items that are not allowed to be sold or bartered on their web site. However, unless some one flags them, they claim they can do little. Seriously? A web site does not even monitor itself? One can imagine that the fraud and abuse is rampant withing this government hand out program if individuals are so brazen to sell them on a public website like Craigslist. But the question is, how can something so easy to be researched not being cracked down on by the feds? One can only imagine why individuals want cash for something that is intended to by food. How about Congress pass a law that says the punishment for reselling food stamps in 10 to 15 years in prison? I bet that would stop a lot of this nonsense.

Imagine the amount of money that the American tax payers could be saved if the feds actually went after fraud and abuse?

Food stamp recipients are turning the government handouts into quick cash with ads on Craigslist, despite efforts to stem fraud.

The federally-funded grocery assistance coupons — which are issued by states in the form of debit cards under the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) — are being sold on the online bulletin board as well as auction sites like eBay. FoxNews.com found several offerings at Craigslist sites around the country, where the sellers offered the welfare benefits at large discounts from face value.

“If you need food. This is not a gimmick or game,” read one posting from Philadelphia. “Please let me know, I have food stamps for sale….. Serious Replies only!!!”

“I have $500 worth and it costs $350 cash. No I will not do half!” read another posting from the Atlanta area. “I don’t need to sell. If you would like to get an extra $150 to $175 in grocery and pay no taxes and can see the benefit that you will still be saving then email me or call me and we can arrange the whole deal as soon as you like.”

EXIT QUESTION: How about the government actually crack down on fraud and abuse rather than always asking for an increase in taxes?