SNAP benefits, the state-issued funds that help families buy groceries, are being hacked at an alarming rate, leaving recipients without essential funds just weeks before the holidays.

News On 6’s Lori Fulbright said the theft is not just happening in Oklahoma but across the United States.

“SNAP benefits, that’s the state money that people get. It’s put on a card so they can go buy groceries for their families. But hackers are stealing that money, and so when people go into the store all of a sudden, they realize it’s empty,” Fulbright said.

Security Measures to Protect SNAP Funds

The Oklahoma Department of Human Services (DHS) is urging SNAP recipients to take steps to secure their accounts and prevent further theft.

1. “They have an app. You can go to that app, lock your card when you’re not using it, unlock it when you need to use it again to protect your money,” Fulbright explained.

DHS is also advising SNAP users to create more complex passwords to make it harder for hackers to steal their information.

1. “And they’re also saying people’s passwords are too simple easy for hackers to steal, so they’re encouraging people to do lot harder passwords,” Fulbright said.

Significant Consequences for Families and Taxpayers

The SNAP benefits theft is not only causing distress for families who rely on the funds, but it’s also costing taxpayers millions of dollars as the state works to refill the stolen cards.

1. “It’s kind of the same advice all of us should be using for our credit cards, but these SNAP benefits is happening all over the US, but especially in Oklahoma, and it’s really creating a bind for these families,” Fulbright said.

With the holidays approaching, the timing of the theft is particularly devastating for those affected.

1. “And here we are two weeks before Christmas, and some of them are saying they went in to swipe it. There’s no money on it,” Fulbright added.

The issue highlights the need for stronger security measures to protect government-issued funds and support the families who rely on them.

Impacting Families Before Christmas

Tulsa Mom Says Stolen SNAP Benefits Threaten Her Family’s Christmas

A Tulsa mother says stolen SNAP benefits have left her struggling to provide for her two daughters, casting uncertainty over their holiday celebrations.

Jessica Shaw, a single mom with two girls ages six and 11, says she relies on SNAP for 80% of her monthly groceries. Her troubles began when her benefits card was declined during a trip to buy snacks.

“I went to pay, and it said declined. And I’m like, what?” Shaw said. “I called, and it said zero balance on the benefit day that I’m supposed to receive them. So I was like, what the heck is going on?”

Shaw says she was devastated to learn her benefits had been stolen. When she visited the Oklahoma Department of Human Services to report the theft, she encountered others in the same situation.

“She’s like, ‘Well, they got you too.’ And I’m like, ‘They who?’ And she’s like, ‘They stole your SNAP benefit.’” Shaw recalled.

The theft has left Shaw worried she won’t be able to celebrate Christmas with her daughters.

“So I won’t be able to afford Christmas dinner. I won’t be able to afford a Christmas ham. I won’t be able to really support my kids in their homeschooling the way that they need,” Shaw said.

DHS reports a dramatic rise in stolen SNAP benefits in recent months and says it takes around 10 days to restore funds. Shaw hopes the issue is resolved in time to give her daughters a holiday celebration.

FROM 10/8/2024: Oklahoma Mom Among Thousands Whose SNAP Benefits Have Been Stolen

Other Ways To Prevent Fraud and Protect Your Information

Here are some fraud prevention tips recommended by the Department of Human Services (DHS):

Choose a Strong PIN

1. Avoid easy-to-guess PINs like “1234” or your birth year.
2. Create a unique combination that only you can remember.

Keep Your Information Private

1. Never share your PIN or card details with anyone.

Inspect for Skimming Devices

1. Before swiping your card, check for skimming devices at ATMs or card readers.
2. If something looks suspicious or tampered with, avoid using it.

Use Card Lock Features

1. Download your card provider’s app to manage your account securely.
2. Lock your card before and after every use to prevent unauthorized transactions.

Amy Roberts of DHS explains the benefits of card management apps:

“There are so many benefits—you can check the balance, see transactions immediately, and lock your card, which is really, really important. When you lock that card, none of the transactions can go through.”

In a flurry of recent moves, several prominent Oklahoma high school football programs have seen significant changes in their coaching staffs.

Graham Leaves Owasso

One of the most notable changes involves the swap of head coaches between Owasso and Union. Antonio Graham, who had been the head coach at Owasso for just one year, is now taking over the reins at Union.

Graham previously served as an assistant under Bill Blankenship at Union and Owasso, before Blankenship stepped away last year to allow Graham to become the Owasso head coach.

Why Did Antonio Graham Leave For Union?

As for the situation involving Owasso and Union, new Redhawks head coach Antonio Graham chose to take over at Union for a variety of reasons. 

Graham and his family continue to live in the school district, in fact just down the road from former Union head coach Kirk Fridrich, and Graham’s wife has been an administrator at a Union elementary school for a while. Graham played at Union, winning a state championship under Bill Blankenship in 2005.

1. Union Head Football Coach Kirk Fridrich Resigns From Position

Blankenship retired from Owasso last year, welcoming Graham as the new head coach of the Rams. Now Blankenship returns to the Owasso sidelines as head coach, helping stabilize a program that went undefeated in the regular season, losing by one point to Bixby in the 6A-1 title game.

Blankenship Returns to Owasso

Now, Blankenship, a coaching icon with six state championships to his name, is returning to Owasso after a year of retirement.

Holcomb says that Blankenship’s return is about making sure you have your staff members and keeping momentum in the program in place, drawing a parallel to the stability often sought in college football programs.

1. Owasso Rehires Bill Blankenship As Head Coach Following Graham’s Resignation

Jenks Sees New Leadership

Another significant change occurred at Jenks, where Adam Gaylor is taking over as head coach, replacing Keith Riggs. Riggs had a successful tenure at Jenks, following in the footsteps of the legendary Allan Trimble. Gaylor, who previously served as Jenks’ defensive coordinator, is now tasked with maintaining the program’s high standards.

1. New Jenks Head Coach Adam Gaylor Introduces Himself

Broken Arrow Hires Travis Hill

The coaching carousel also reached Broken Arrow, as the program has hired Travis Hill as its new head coach. Hill comes from Muskogee, where he led the team to a state championship last year and came within a missed field goal of another title. Holcomb said Hill’s previous success and ability to unify the team will be crucial for Broken Arrow, which is the largest high school in the state and carries high expectations.

With these coaching changes coinciding with some of the most exciting playoff and championship finishes in recent memory, the upcoming high school football season in Oklahoma promises to be filled with intrigue and anticipation.

1. Broken Arrow Announces Travis Hill As Next Head Football Coach

Oklahoma is set to lose another wide receiver to the transfer portal. 

Andrel Anthony, who missed virtually the entire 2024 season while still recovering from an ACL injury, will enter the transfer portal, per Hayes Fawcett of On3.

Anthony caught 27 passes for 429 yards and a touchdown in 2023 for the Sooners before he injured his knee against Texas. 

He battled setbacks, but he was only able to play eight snaps for the Sooners this year per Pro Football Focus and caught one pass for four yards. 

Anthony appeared on the SEC Availability Report multiple times throughout the season as “questionable”, but he never made an impact in 2024. 

Before arriving at Oklahoma, Anthony played two seasons at Michigan. 

He caught 19 passes for 328 yards and four scores for the Wolverines, and his two-year totals for Oklahoma ended at 28 receptions for 433 yards.

Anthony isn’t the only OU pass catcher who battled injuries who will look for a fresh start in the portal. 

Thursday it was reported that Nic Anderson is also on the hunt for a new team as he tests the portal waters. 

Receivers Jaquaize Pettaway, J.J. Hester and Jalil Farooq are also all entering their names into the transfer portal as well. 

Anderson caught 38 passes for 798 yards and 10 touchdowns in 2023, but was only able to play a handful of snaps against Tennessee this year. 

Oklahoma’s offense will look for plenty of new faces at receiver in the transfer portal this offseason. 

Brent Venables officially announced the hiring of Washington State offensive coordinator Ben Arbuckle on Monday, and receivers coach Emmett Jones was retained as the Sooners head into 2025. 

After only signing a pair of receivers in the 2025 recruiting class, Arbuckle and Jones are expected to hit the portal hard to find established production to help transform OU’s offense in the program’s second season in the SEC. 

The winter transfer portal window will be open from Dec. 9-28.

Players do not have to know their destination by Dec. 28, they just have to be in the portal when the window closes to retain immediate eligibility.