I was in the grocery store today when a woman approached me. I was near the end of my shopping and, as usual, my cart was overflowing. I always walk into the store with one cart and walk out with two! LOL Anyway, she began by telling me that she has an Access card (I believe they don't issue food stamps anymore, instead everything is on a card?) and her car was in the shop. She needed money to pay the garage to get it back. She asked me if I would put my order on her card and give her the cash. I told her no, with a smile, and she walked away. Not only wasn't I paying for my groceries with cash, it just didn't feel right to me. Now, I'm wondering if it was really a scam or if she was genuine. I'm still leaning toward scam, but how would it work?

By Hlgmom on Wednesday, December 14, 2005 - 12:33 pm:

My first thought is scam- my husband was in the grocery industry for 12 years- people were always trying to find a way to get money for their cards. There is always the chnce that she was legit- but it is small- you did the right thing as it is not legal to do that anyway!

By Vicki on Wednesday, December 14, 2005 - 12:42 pm:

My first thought is scam too. I hate to think that way, but I bet she wanted the money for Christmas or drugs or something like that. And it is illegal to do that! She gets food stamps for food and I wonder how she would feed her family if someone does do this for her???

By Enchens on Wednesday, December 14, 2005 - 12:46 pm:

What's an access card?

By Mommmie on Wednesday, December 14, 2005 - 02:12 pm:

Total scam.

By Ginny~moderator on Wednesday, December 14, 2005 - 02:15 pm:

An access card is a card issued by the welfare department, either for food stamps or cash assistance, and it is replenished electronically monthly. They made the change in an effort to stop the selling of food stamps, because the cashier can require ID before accepting the access card, and it can only be used at stores that are hooked into the system.

Yes, it was a scam. She was trying to get cash for "food stamps".

By Cat on Wednesday, December 14, 2005 - 02:21 pm:

I agree. It probably was. I wouldn't have done it.

By Enchens on Wednesday, December 14, 2005 - 03:43 pm:

Wow. Good to know.

By Mrsheidi on Wednesday, December 14, 2005 - 03:49 pm:

How did she get to the store without a car?
Scam, probably...geez...glad you said no. If it's in the shop, usually people will at least offer to drive you home. And, why would she put her car in the shop if she couldn't afford it? It might have broken down or something, but still...wow.

By Sunny on Wednesday, December 14, 2005 - 04:57 pm:

Well, even if I had said yes, most of the cashiers know me at the supermarket and they've never seen me use an access card. It would have raised some eyebrows, I'm sure.

By Emily7 on Wednesday, December 14, 2005 - 05:12 pm:

When people do things like that it REALLY upsets me. That is why so many states went to the card instead of the paper coupons but people will always find away around doing the right thing.

By Missymelissy on Wednesday, December 14, 2005 - 07:09 pm:

This sounds to me like a scam. My SIL and MIL had something similar happen to them in a parking area and when they went into a store they told the sales clerk - the sales clerk said this person is always doing it.

By Bobbie~moderatr on Wednesday, December 14, 2005 - 08:38 pm:

It is a scam and they don't care how they would feed their child that is just it. She probably wanted to buy drugs.. You did the right thing.. And this is the bad things that causes the good people to be looked down on...