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You can report Public Assistance, Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), or Medicaid fraud online, by mail and by phone. 

Reports about individuals and businesses committing fraud are accepted.

You cannot make a fraud complaint in person.

Online

Report welfare fraud.

By Mail

BFI Complaint Unit
375 Pearl Street, 23rd Floor
New York, NY 10038

By Phone

  • Agency: Human Resources Administration
  • Phone Number: (718) 557-1399
  • Business Hours: Monday - Friday: 8 AM - 5 PM
  • You can reach staff during business hours (except for City Holidays). You can get help in most languages. Automated Assistance is available in English and Spanish, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

Public benefit fraud is defined as the intentional misrepresentation, concealment, or nondisclosure of material facts in order to participate in government funded benefits, which includes Public Assistance, SNAP (food stamps), and Medicaid.

Fraud can be committed by either a client or provider.

Public Assistance and SNAP (Food Stamps) fraud includes, but is not limited to, failing to alert or report to the Agency any of the following:

  • Income/Assets
  • Ownership of property/business
  • Bank account
  • Change in residency and/or household size
  • Vehicles
  • Receiving benefits for a person when the recipient is living somewhere else
  • Giving documents to the Agency that have been changed and/or have any false information, such as income, resources and household size
  • Selling SNAP benefits for money, drugs, and other prohibited items through an Electronic Benefit Transfer card
  • Buying EBT benefits for cash or other prohibited items

Medicaid fraud includes, but is not limited to: 

  • Lying about income or household members on an application
  • Selling or loaning Electronic Benefits Transfer cards for others to use
  • Providing forged prescriptions
  • Pharmacies that bill Medicaid for medications not prescribed

If your EBT card is damaged, lost or stolen, you must contact EBT Customer Service to report the issue with your card. EBT Customer Service will deactivate your card so that no one else can use it.

You should immediately contact EBT Customer Service if you suspect or know:

  • That your card or card number has been stolen;
  • That someone not authorized by you has gained access to your PIN;
  • That someone has gained information about your identity that may result in your benefits being stolen; or
  • That you lost your card

Only by first contacting EBT Customer Service to deactivate your card can you protect yourself against potential benefit theft or fraud.

You can report the issue with your card online or by phone.

Online

Visit the ebtEDGE website.

The ebtEDGE mobile app can be downloaded for free on your mobile device through the Google Play Store or Apple App Store

By Phone

  • Agency: New York State Office of Temporary and Disability Assistance
  • Division: Electronic Benefit Transfer (EBT) Customer Service
  • Phone Number: (888) 328-6399
  • Business Hours: 24 hours, 7 days a week
  • Staff is available at all times through the automated phone system.

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