Oklahoma
Oklahoma's Own In Focus: Hackers Targeting SNAP Benefits, Leaving Families in Financial Bind. Here's How To Protect Your Info
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.
- “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.
- “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.
- “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.
- “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
- Avoid easy-to-guess PINs like “1234” or your birth year.
- Create a unique combination that only you can remember.
Keep Your Information Private
- Never share your PIN or card details with anyone.
Inspect for Skimming Devices
- Before swiping your card, check for skimming devices at ATMs or card readers.
- If something looks suspicious or tampered with, avoid using it.
Use Card Lock Features
- Download your card provider’s app to manage your account securely.
- 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.”
NORMAN — The Sooners were behind the eight ball for much of Tuesday’s game against Oral Roberts.
But one swing of the bat got them in a more favorable position.
Shortstop Jaxon Willits blasted a grand slam in the sixth inning to give No. 14 Oklahoma its first lead before eventually winning 7-6.
The Sooners trailed by as many as five runs before they rallied late.
In the first inning, Oral Roberts’ Cooper Combs hit a two-out grand slam to give the Golden Eagles a comfortable cushion. OU infielder Deiten Lachance got the Sooners on the board in the second inning with a solo home run, but ORU responded with a solo shot of its own in the next frame.
The Golden Eagles made it a 6-1 run game in the top of the fourth, and they appeared to be on cruise control. But in the bottom of that frame, OU’s rally began.
Dasan Harris made it a four-run game again with a sacrifice fly in the bottom of the fourth before Camden Johnson hit a sacrifice fly of his own in the fifth.
Then, in the sixth, the Sooners took their first lead of the game.
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Harris singled before Kyle Branch and Connor Larkin walked to load the bases. Willits then swung at the first pitch he saw, sending it well over the right-center field fence.
Neither team scored after Willits’ home run, as OU relief pitcher Xander Mercurius retired nine ORU batters in a row to seal the Sooners’ one-run win.
Michael Catalano started on the mound for Oklahoma, but his outing was short-lived — he gave up four earned runs on two hits and five walks in 1 ⅓ innings.
After coach Skip Johnson relieved Catalano in the second inning, six different OU arms entered the game. Reid Hensley collected the win, while Mercurius got the save.
OU improved to 28-12 overall with the win, while Oral Roberts dropped to 23-15. The Sooners are 7-3 in midweek games this season, and they clinched the season sweep of the Golden Eagles on Tuesday.
Next, the Sooners will hit the road for a three-game series against Auburn. The Tigers, ranked No. 11 by D1Baseball, are 10-8 in SEC play and took two of three games against Florida over the weekend.
The series will open on Friday, and first pitch is scheduled for 6 p.m.
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NORMAN — After an up-and down week that saw Oklahoma drop the lone Bedlam match of the season, and then split two tight games with Arkansas before blowing out the Razorbacks on Sunday, the Sooners remained No. 1 in the NFCA/Go Rout coaches’ poll released Tuesday.
But there’s far from a consensus.
Oklahoma received 12 first-place votes — the same total they had last week — but five other teams received first-place votes.
Texas Tech remained No. 2 with four four-place votes and Alabama No. 3 with seven. Nebraska moved up two spots to No. 4 with four first-place votes, followed by Florida with two and UCLA with two.
Texas is No. 7, followed by Tennessee, Arkansas and Florida State.
Texas A&M, the Sooners’ opponent for the final regular-season weekend in two weeks, comes in at No. 11.
Other SEC teams include Georgia at No. 15, Mississippi State at No. 17 and LSU at No. 20.
OU hosts the Georgia Bulldogs in a three-game series beginning Friday.
Other Sooners’ opponents this season in the polls include No. 14 Duke, No. 18 Oklahoma State, No. 19 Arizona, No. 24 Arizona State and No. 25 Washington.
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Oklahoma also remained in the top spot in the D1Softball poll, with Alabama No. 2 there followed by Texas Tech, Nebraska at Texas.
The Sooners dropped a spot in the Softball America poll, with Nebraska elevating to No. 1 behind the two-way stardom of former OU standout Jordy Frahm (formerly Jordy Bahl).
Frahm is 13-4 with a 1.36 ERA and 157 strikeouts in 118 2/3 innings in the circle and hitting .440 with 16 home runs and 42 RBIs. Another former Sooners player, Hannah Coor, is among the Cornhuskers’ regulars as well.
The Sooners have 158 home runs, just three away from tying their own season record in the category, but UCLA has closed the gap in a major way, sitting just four behind Oklahoma.
OU freshman sensation Kendall Wells leads the nation with 34 home runs, three ahead of UCLA’s Megan Grant. Wells tied Jocelyn Alo‘s program record for home runs in a season with her home run in Sunday’s win.
The Sooners host Arkansas-Pine Bluff at 6 p.m. Tuesday in their final non-conference game of the season before opening the series against Georgia at 6:30 p.m. Friday at Love’s FIeld.
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Putnam City West High School will shift to virtual learning on Tuesday after an incident involving two students prompted an investigation by the district and Oklahoma City police, according to Putnam City Schools.
District officials said administrators were alerted near the end of the school day Monday to an altercation involving two students in the school’s arena area.
Officials said the students left campus, and the case was turned over to Putnam City Campus Police and the Oklahoma City Police Department for investigation.
District officials said no students or staff were harmed and there is no ongoing safety threat related to the incident.
What we know
Putnam City West sent the following email to all families and staff at the school:
All PCW students and staff will transition to virtual learning for Tuesday, April 21st.
Today, an isolated serious incident involving two students occurred on school grounds. Near the end of the school day, administrators were alerted to an altercation between two students in the arena area. The individuals involved quickly left campus, prompting an initial fact-finding response by school administrators before the matter was turned over to Putnam City Campus Police and the Oklahoma City Police Department for further investigation. Because this is an active investigation involving students, no further information will be released at this time.
We understand this information may be concerning to students, staff, and families. Please know we are committed to maintaining a safe, secure, and positive learning environment for all students. At Putnam City Schools, student and staff safety remains our highest priority. Therefore, out of an abundance of caution and to allow for a thorough investigation, all PCW students and staff will transition to virtual learning for Tuesday, April 21st. Students will need to check Google Classroom for updates from teachers.
Thank you for your understanding and continued support of PC West.
Putnam City Schools
All students and staff at Putnam City West will transition to virtual learning on Tuesday, April 21, while investigators continue their work, according to the district.
Students were told to check Google Classroom for instructions from teachers.
The district said it is withholding additional details because the case involves students and remains under investigation.
School officials have not said what triggered the incident or whether any arrests have been made.
This is a developing story. Updates will be added as more information becomes available.
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