<span style="font-weight: bold; font-family: ‘Lucida Sans’;" class="R~sep~ACopyBody">Who can I get in touch with to report food stamp fraud?</span>

<span class="R~sep~ACopyBody">You can call the state Department of Children and Family Services at 888-524-3578, selecting option 7 from the menu, or at 800-256-3150, or you can email DCFS.Fraud@la.gov.</span>

<span class="R~sep~ACopyBody">Additionally, you can visit https://fraudreporting.dcfs.la.gov and fill out an online complaint form.</span>

<span class="R~sep~ACopyBody">Examples of fraud, as listed on the DCFS website:</span>

<span class="R~sep~ACopyListing">“Someone in the home beginning to work or quitting work.”</span>

<span class="R~sep~ACopyListing">“Actual earnings or income of all household members.”</span>

<span class="R~sep~ACopyListing">“Self-employment or doing odd jobs without reporting the income.”</span>

<span class="R~sep~ACopyListing">“Ownership of property.”</span>

<span class="R~sep~ACopyListing">“Money in the bank.”</span>

<span class="R~sep~ACopyListing">“Unearned income such as social security, child support, unemployment compensation or veteran’s benefits for any household members.”</span>

<span class="R~sep~ACopyListing">“Everyone living in the home.”</span>

<span class="R~sep~ACopyListing">“Someone moving in or out of the home.”</span>

<span class="R~sep~ACopyListing">“Receiving assistance in one parish while living in another parish or state.”</span>

<span class="R~sep~ACopyListing">“Receiving assistance in more than one parish or state.”</span>

<span class="R~sep~ACopyListing">“Changes in a child’s attendance at day care.”</span>

<span class="R~sep~ACopyBody">To report fraud committed by retailers, call the U.S. Department of Agriculture at 800-424-9121 — the TDD number is 202-690-1202 — or email usda_hotline@oig.usda.gov.</span>

<span class="R~sep~AZaphdingbatdot7pt">l</span>

<span style="font-weight: bold;" class="R~sep~ACopyEditors~sep~endnote">Online:</span> <span class="R~sep~ACopyEditors~sep~endnote">www.dcfs.la.gov.</span>

<span class="R~sep~AHeadBrief">Report scam message to Facebook</span>

<span style="font-weight: bold; font-family: ‘Lucida Sans’;" class="R~sep~ACopyBody">Someone is hacking Facebook users’ accounts</span> <span style="font-weight: bold; font-family: ‘Lucida Sans’;" class="R~sep~ACopyBody">and sending Facebook messenger information about Facebook giving away $100,000.</span>

<span style="font-weight: bold; font-family: ‘Lucida Sans’;" class="R~sep~ACopyBody">The people being hacked are already friends of who they are trying to scam.</span>

<span class="R~sep~ACopyBody">“If you’ve received a message saying that you’re a winner of a Facebook lottery or that you’ve won money from Facebook, don’t respond to it. These messages are part of a scam,” reads an entry on Facebook’s security threats help page.</span>

<span class="R~sep~ACopyBody">“The messages could come from a profile claiming to represent Facebook or an account impersonating someone you know. The people behind these scams may try to get you to provide account log-in information, personal information or a copy of a government issued ID. They may also ask you to send an advance fee to claim your prize money.”</span>

<span class="R~sep~ACopyBody">Users who receive such messages should report them to Facebook.</span>

<span class="R~sep~AHeadBrief">Buses used to shuttle people to, from work</span>

<span style="font-weight: bold; font-family: ‘Lucida Sans’;" class="R~sep~ACopyBody">During the past month there have been Lakeland Tour buses that park in the Target parking lot and run up and down Prien Lake Road and Lake Street.</span>

<span style="font-weight: bold; font-family: ‘Lucida Sans’;" class="R~sep~ACopyBody">They run multiple times each day and do not appear to have passengers. What is their purpose in Lake Charles?</span>

<span class="R~sep~ACopyBody">A company spokesperson said the buses shuttle workers between their hotel and worksite.</span>

<span class="R~sep~AZaphdingbatdot7pt">l</span>

<span style="font-size: 8pt;" class="R~sep~ACopyEditors~sep~endnote">The I</span><span style="font-size: 8pt;" class="R~sep~ACopyEditors~sep~endnote">nform</span><span style="font-size: 8pt;" class="R~sep~ACopyEditors~sep~endnote">er answers questions from rea</span><span style="font-size: 8pt;" class="R~sep~ACopyEditors~sep~endnote">ders each Sunday, Monday a</span><span style="font-size: 8pt;" class="R~sep~ACopyEditors~sep~endnote">nd Wednesday. It is re</span><span style="font-size: 8pt;" class="R~sep~ACopyEditors~sep~endnote">searched and written by</span> <span style="font-weight: bold; font-size: 8pt;" class="R~sep~ACopyEditors~sep~endnote">Andrew Perzo</span><span style="font-size: 8pt;" class="R~sep~ACopyEditors~sep~endnote">, an</span> <span style="font-style: italic; font-size: 8pt;" class="R~sep~ACopyEditors~sep~endnote">American Press</span> <span style="font-size: 8pt;" class="R~sep~ACopyEditors~sep~endnote">staff wri</span><span style="font-size: 8pt;" class="R~sep~ACopyEditors~sep~endnote">ter. To ask a question, call</span> <span style="font-size: 8pt;" class="R~sep~ACopyEditors~sep~endnote">494-409</span><span style="font-size: 8pt;" class="R~sep~ACopyEditors~sep~endnote">8 and leave voice mail, or ema</span><span style="font-size: 8pt;" class="R~sep~ACopyEditors~sep~endnote">il informer@americanpress.com.</span>