On the buyer’s side, the motivation is purely economic—the ability to purchase groceries at a significant discount. For unscrupulous retailers, trafficking is a high-margin, albeit illegal, revenue stream. Legal and Social Consequences
An individual sells their EBT balance to another person for cash, usually at a discounted rate (e.g., $100 in benefits for $50 in cash). buying food stamps
The illegal purchase and sale of benefits from the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), commonly known as "buying food stamps," is a form of welfare fraud officially termed . While it often appears as a survival strategy for those in poverty, it is a federal crime with significant consequences for individuals, retailers, and the integrity of the social safety net. The Mechanism of Trafficking On the buyer’s side, the motivation is purely