NYC Bodegas Allegedly Run as EBT Fraud Hubs, Federal Officials Say

A Secret Service three‑day operation across Brooklyn, the Bronx and Queens uncovered 35 illegal EBT skimming devices and blocked about $36.5 million in potential fraud. Experts say many NYC bodegas operate as “EBT ATMs” to traffic SNAP benefits, with criminals skimming card data to create counterfeit cards; SNAP’s lack of itemized receipts and weak identity checks are cited as enabling factors. Authorities are advocating reforms such as chip‑enabled EBT cards and stronger verification, with NY Gov. Hochul planning a 2027 rollout, while Talcove argues arrests won’t fix the broader fraud network.