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Should I turn in my brother for food stamp fraud?

What should I do?

  • Turn in my brother and his sons.

    Votes: 2 4.8%
  • Turn in my brother, his sons, and store

    Votes: 4 9.5%
  • Turn in the store

    Votes: 20 47.6%
  • Do nothing at all.

    Votes: 16 38.1%

  • Total voters
    42
2 ways to look at this.

1) Your brother and his kids are committing fraud.

2) The store is actually the one committing fraud.

You either "rat" out your family or you rat out a store that has no ties to you. ;)


3) Both the store and the people are committing fraud.

You know, that's how the law looks at it.
 
OP: turn them in - WHY NOT?
Now - if it wasn't an 'ongoing thing' but just a temporary 'my wife died and everything fell apart' then I say no. But if they already knew this and clearly don't have their priorities straight them it's fraud and it's likely been going on for a while.

- But what's more fraudulent is them using it to buy BEER AND CIGARETTES. This is reflective of the store which is violating existing policy. You are not supposed to use foodstamps to buy liquor and sticks. No - no - no. The store is fleecing the system to stay in business and at the least THAT MUST be reported even if you DON'T report your family.

Blood is thicker than water - family always comes first.

Always - no questions asked.

That's the silliest thing I've ever heard. It's a bull**** lie.

Always?

What if your brother is a serial killer and wants to use your back yard for disposal. "Yeah sure, Bob, whatever you want. Blood is thicker than water." (rollseyes)
 
That's so not true. Police departments have units that constantly bust such places around here.
ya ya. am familiar with sting operations - someone has to report it, and there is usually an investigation, then the undercover buy... so report it. Least that is what I would do.
 
If you came to DP to ask for advice on how to deal with your relations...

you've come to the wrong place.
 
Honestly, I don't know what I'd do. I would feel TERRIBLE about turning in a family member, but at the same time I would know that this particular person's behavior seems a bit self-destructive, so am I doing him and the rest of my family any FAVORS by not turning him in?

Another thing that would bother me is that I know that sometimes, going through the legal system, with the expenses incurred, can oftentimes make a person's situation even worse, with the added stress and financial worries.

This is a really tough one IMO.
 
3) Both the store and the people are committing fraud.

You know, that's how the law looks at it.

No, that's not how the law works when it comes to fraud. You have to knowingly commit fraud to be guilty of it. A consumer who is receiving food stamps typically doesn't know the ins and outs of the food stamp program on what can be bought and what can't. The store on the other hand does know as to be a member of the program requires State approval. That approval requires different things like testing, random checks, and such.
 
No, that's not how the law works when it comes to fraud. You have to knowingly commit fraud to be guilty of it.

What kind of a ****ing moron doesn't know that EBT cards are not to be used for liquor and cigs? I'm pretty sure that's mentioned in the pamphlet, and is part of the paperwork signed by a recipient.
 
What kind of a ****ing moron doesn't know that EBT cards are not to be used for liquor and cigs? I'm pretty sure that's mentioned in the pamphlet, and is part of the paperwork signed by a recipient.

The kind of person who goes to a store who decides they don't give a damn and want to fleece the system to stay in business.

Stores should practice doing this: "You can't buy that"
 
The kind of person who goes to a store who decides they don't give a damn and want to fleece the system to stay in business.

So you agree the claim of ignorance is BS.

Stores should practice doing this: "You can't buy that"

99.9% of them do. Very few commit EBT fraud.
 
So you agree the claim of ignorance is BS.

Yes - trust me, they KNOW. You cannot claim ignorance of the existing laws - the law doesn't work that way. If you want to run a proper business and stay afloat you stay on top of all rules and regulations that government your business. This is common business sense 101.

"Gee officer, I didn't know that going 100 in a 70 was against the law." - See, it doesn't work that way.
 
Yes - trust me, they KNOW. You cannot claim ignorance of the existing laws - the law doesn't work that way.

"Gee officer, I didn't know that going 100 in a 70 was against the law." - See, it doesn't work that way.

Beside, one signs paperwork to get EBT. That paperwork includes "no alcohol or cigs".
 
I am an old grunt, not a thug. You have huffed and puffed online but now want to drop a dime on your brother??? :confused:

Ummm your brother is hurting all good Gawd-fearin' CONs by fraud. Your 'compassion' is to report him to the police so he can go to jail... yeah you are Mr. Compassion. :roll:

The cops didn't even show-up. My brother got up and walked to a friend's house, the two neighbors didn't say a word- here in Oklahoma family deals with family, unlike Texas where apparently squealing on family is the way to go. :shock:

But thanks for asking... :2wave:

My bottom line, if it pisses you off enough to come in here to rant, if it pisses you off enough to want to rat him out and possible jail time- then 'old soldier' ya can at least confront him, flip a few tables, ya know, demonstrate your disdain for fraud.

I believe in the rule of law. And I didn't squeal on anyone. My brother didn't do anything that would necessitate me beating his ass. We use our brains not our fist to resolve problems. What you did was Assault. or Possible Assault and Battery.

Assault - Oklahoma Stat. Ann. Tit. 21, §641 . Unless the crime is committed against a special victim or involves the use of a dangerous weapon, assault is a misdemeanor punishable by up to thirty days in jail or a $500 fine, or both.

Assault and Battery - Oklahoma Stat. Ann.Tit. 21, §644.) A crime of assault and battery that is not committed against a special victim, does not result in serious bodily injury, and does not involve the use of a dangerous weapon is a misdemeanor punishable by up to ninety days in jail or a $1,000 fine, or both.

So what your telling me is that you are a common criminal.
 
No, that's not how the law works when it comes to fraud. You have to knowingly commit fraud to be guilty of it. A consumer who is receiving food stamps typically doesn't know the ins and outs of the food stamp program on what can be bought and what can't. The store on the other hand does know as to be a member of the program requires State approval. That approval requires different things like testing, random checks, and such.

I think that would be 'ignorance of the law' which isn't considered a valid excuse in MOST instances.
 
There are two threads about this, and I'm getting confused. :lol: Someone delete the other thread or something.
 
I believe in the rule of law. And I didn't squeal on anyone. My brother didn't do anything that would necessitate me beating his ass. We use our brains not our fist to resolve problems. What you did was Assault. or Possible Assault and Battery.

Assault - Oklahoma Stat. Ann. Tit. 21, §641 . Unless the crime is committed against a special victim or involves the use of a dangerous weapon, assault is a misdemeanor punishable by up to thirty days in jail or a $500 fine, or both.

Assault and Battery - Oklahoma Stat. Ann.Tit. 21, §644.) A crime of assault and battery that is not committed against a special victim, does not result in serious bodily injury, and does not involve the use of a dangerous weapon is a misdemeanor punishable by up to ninety days in jail or a $1,000 fine, or both.

So what your telling me is that you are a common criminal.

I really don't think that beating him up would solve any of your or his problems anyway and would just make matters worse. Then YOU might be the one going to jail.
 
I really don't think that beating him up would solve any of your or his problems anyway and would just make matters worse. Then YOU might be the one going to jail.


What kind of a neanderthal suggests beatings to solve problems?

Violence should only be used in defense. Period.
 
Here is the situation. My brother and his sons live in another state. My sister passed away this month from lung cancer. I traveled there for the funeral and to visit. When I got there i found my brother and two of his sons had not eaten for two days. So i went out and picked up some burgers. After they had eaten I took my brother and his sons in my rental car, none of them have a car, to buy groceries which I gladly paid for. On the way back they asked me to stop at a store so i did. They came out with beer and cigaretts. Well needless to say i was pissed. I asked, how can you afford beer and cigaretts but can't afford food. My brother responded "the store accepted his food stamp card for beer and smokes, isn't that cool" I said hell no its not cool. My brother and his adult sons are on food stamps. So what am I to do. Turn in my brother and his sons.

Of course you should turn them in as soon as possible. If not then you become another part of the problem, just another taker...
 
I really don't think that beating him up would solve any of your or his problems anyway and would just make matters worse. Then YOU might be the one going to jail.

Thank you, I agree.
 
What kind of a neanderthal suggests beatings to solve problems?

Violence should only be used in defense. Period.

Although it might be tempting at times to give maybe just an open-handed slap to say, "what's WRONG with you?!" and "Wake UP!" :lol: J/K.
 
I'd let it go and focus instead on greater injustices. This stuff is small time.

I think I am going to turn in the store. Welfare fraud is not small time when you consider how much of this goes on across the country. And If they shut the store down my brother may consider buying groceries with his SNAP card, but probably not.
 
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I think that would be 'ignorance of the law' which isn't considered a valid excuse in MOST instances.

But in fraud cases it is. You have to knowingly do it. Only the retailer knows the rules.
 
But in fraud cases it is. You have to knowingly do it. Only the retailer knows the rules.

That is not true. Individuals are busted for fraud all the time. It doesn't really matter if they say "oh, I didn't know." You sign a CONTRACT to receive state benefits that YOU are responsible to read and understand.
 
But in fraud cases it is. You have to knowingly do it. Only the retailer knows the rules.

Are you aware that just not reporting income is considered "welfare fraud?" They don't care if you say "you didn't know." Ignorance of the law is NOT an excuse, especially when you are an adult and have signed the necessary paperwork and agreements to receive such benefits.
 
Here is the situation. My brother and his sons live in another state. My sister passed away this month from lung cancer. I traveled there for the funeral and to visit. When I got there i found my brother and two of his sons had not eaten for two days. So i went out and picked up some burgers. After they had eaten I took my brother and his sons in my rental car, none of them have a car, to buy groceries which I gladly paid for. On the way back they asked me to stop at a store so i did. They came out with beer and cigaretts. Well needless to say i was pissed. I asked, how can you afford beer and cigaretts but can't afford food. My brother responded "the store accepted his food stamp card for beer and smokes, isn't that cool" I said hell no its not cool. My brother and his adult sons are on food stamps. So what am I to do. Turn in my brother and his sons.


It doesn't look like you mention whether or not they qualify for the program. Do they qualify? If they in fact are not working or have so little income that they legitimately quality I say if they chose beer and cigarettes over food, while not a wise choice, it is theirs to make.
 
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