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Trafficking refers to the illegal buying or selling of Food and Nutrition Services (FNS) benefits for cash or other ineligible items. This can include attempts to sell these benefits online or publicly. The USDA uses charge letters to inform authorized retailers of investigations regarding trafficking. Investigative red flags may include numerous back-to-back transactions or high dollar sales in small stores. Social media monitoring is essential to detect potential fraud, and reports such as the Prison Match, PARIS, and BEER assist in identifying suspicious activities.
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What is Trafficking? • Trafficking is the buying or selling of Food and Nutrition Services benefits for cash or consideration other than eligible food; or the attempt to buy or sell FNS benefits online and/or in public
How is trafficking referred? • USDA Charge Letters • USDA Office of Inspector General • Telephone calls and emails from the public • Monitor social media web sites • Data Mining
What are Charge Letters? Charge Letters are used by USDA to notify authorized FNS retailers that they have been investigated and found guilty of trafficking FNS benefits
Charge LettersCounty Notification • Charge letters are sent to County DSS from the State Office. • County DSS reviews client information for suspected recipient trafficking
Investigative Red Flags • Several whole dollar transactions • Rapid Transactions back-to-back • High dollar transactions in a small store
Monitoring Social Media Sites • USDA requires that social media sites be monitored for potential trafficking • SNAP RSS Feed Procedures provided by USDA to assist in identifying fraud activities online • Technical barriers - may need to be discussed with your county IT department
Data Mining • Prison Match Report • PARIS Report • BEER Report