Dogs and scam artists roaming the aisles
Dogs and scam artists roaming the aisles
Not only unwanted dogs patrol the aisles of our local retailers in “Gone to the Dogs, ” West Hawaii Today, June 15.
While I was shopping at Hilo’s Safeway last week, a young man approached me in the store with an EBT card in hand and said he was expecting a check and that he needed cash. He offered to purchase my groceries for me with his EBT card, and then sell them back to me at a reduced cash price. I refused his offer and walked away. I reported the incident as I was checking out. The cashier took the matter very seriously, and called security. I searched around the store, but unfortunately the young man was not to be found.
Hard working taxpayers are disturbed and troubled when EBT card holders misuse well-intended benefits. The government provides these EBT safety nets for citizens who are in need, and they are not to be used as an ATM cash cow.
So for shoppers, beware of this scam and be ready to say no if someone offers to pay for your items with their EBT card. Then report the person to store security. Safeway’s response was the correct one, and I appreciate their efforts to see that possible EBT cards abuses are investigated.
Now, if we could only keep those suspect “service” dogs out of the aisles, we’d find shopping in Hilo a bit more pleasant.
Richard Dinges
Hilo