Buffalo, N.Y. (WBEN) - It was her worse case scenario.
A local woman, whose name is being withheld, double checked her SNAP benefits just after midnight on Nov. 14 to make sure the delayed allocation was in her account.
The $587 SNAP benefit package was there.
But nine hours later, as the woman was shopping at an area supermarket, it turned out her SNAP account was emptied out by cyber thefts.
Sadly, the woman is not alone.
Cyber thieves have successfully hacked into people's accounts and siphoned away their benefit allocations.
The U.S. Department of Agriculture reports that last year, there was at least $12 billion in reported cyber thefts of people's SNAP benefits.
With the federal shutdown over and SNAP funds being released again, officials expect a flurry of online thefts.
"They are hitting people at their lowest point and making them feel even worse," said Trina Burruss, United Way of Buffalo & Erie County CEO. "It's a shame."
Burruss recommends there are some precautions people can take to safeguard their SNAP allocations - or, any other public sector-backed benefit.
SNAP funds can be frozen and then unfrozen when needed before freezing them again. The United Way and other agencies including the Erie County Department of Social Services offers advice on how to freeze and unfreeze SNAP allocations.
Burruss also recommends, much like checking accounts or credit cards, people should frequently check them to make sure everything is accurate.
"Be smart," Burruss said.