Artificial Intelligence would prevent SNAP thefts

Fraud against the United States Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) has recently increased. This is due to the rise in reported figures and the implementation of Electronic Benefit Transfer (EBT) cards lacking protection.

These documents follow the same procedure as bank cards, but they do not have a similar complexity in their structure. EBT cards are vulnerable to skimming, a form of theft used by thieves. This fraud occurs by placing a device on ATMs to detect the users' numbers and PIN.

INETCO is a software company for cybersecurity and the detection of illicit activity on the Internet. The product and strategy director of this company, Ali Solehdin, reported that Artificial Intelligence (AI) can put an end to SNAP thefts.

Annual losses due to card theft 

Government authorities use INETCO's BullzAI platform with the aim of controlling illegal operations with EBT cards. The Government Accountability Office reported that stolen EBT devices constitute losses exceeding 4 billion dollars each year.

Mr. Solehdin advised adding detection chips to SNAP cards to prevent crime. Some states are studying the alternative, but it would take the country two years to generalize the option and more money would be lost in these crimes.

For this reason, Solehdin also recommended the use of fraud prevention technologies, supported by AI to detect illegal activities in the virtual system. The INETCO official assured that the use of AI is simpler and more cost-effective than replacing millions of stolen EBT cards.

Solehdin added that AI exists for many functions and can be made available to those responsible for SNAP in 2 or 3 months. Americans have the duty to report these criminal actions on the digital site of the Department of Agriculture (USDA).