Jane Edwards
The Florida Department of Children and Families has deployed a security control system from LexisNexis Special Services to protect the state’s Disaster Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program from being exploited by international fraudsters, News 6 reported Friday.
The move is part of DCF’s efforts to prevent a potential rise in overseas scammers that would try to steal D-SNAP benefits intended for victims of Hurricane Ian.
Haywood Talcove, CEO, Government, LexisNexis Risk Solutions and LexisNexis Special Services, said the company has blocked bogus applicants through its security platform since the pre-registation kicked off on Oct. 10 for D-SNAP benefits.
He said the company’s security system can detect within seconds those impostors who are operating out of Russia, China, Nigeria and Romania.
“I would suspect there will be more people applying for D-SNAP benefits than there are people living in the state of Florida,” added Talcove, a 2022 Wash100 Award winner.
DCF Secretary Shevaun Harris announced that nearly 100,000 applicants underwent the pre-registration process for D-SNAP benefits during the first week of telephone interviews.
