Independent journalist probes alleged food stamp fraud in Seattle’s Chinatown-International District

Independent journalist Nick Shirley visited Seattle to investigate allegations that homeless individuals and businesses are exchanging food stamp benefits for cash.

Shirley and a group of other journalists filmed undercover in Seattle’s Chinatown-International District (CID), examining allegations that homeless people were selling access to benefits on their Electronic Benefit Transfer (EBT) cards to businesses.

During the outing, a street fight escalated into a confrontation involving the group. The group fled after a security guard’s gun fell to the ground and someone picked it up.

Shirley asked a man described in the video as homeless how much he would accept for an EBT card reportedly holding more than $300 in benefits. The man said he would sell it for $120.

“People will give people cash for the food stamps. People are willing to sell it for just $120,” Shirley said. “The food stamp card is essentially just like an ATM for a lot of these homeless people here inside of Seattle.”

Shirley seeks offers to exchange food stamp benefits for cash

Shirley turned to the alleged partnership between local businesses and those looking to sell their EBT cards. A man on the sidewalk pointed them toward a few meeting places where they could simply stand in place and wait for others to approach them with buying offers.

While en route to one of these locations, Shirley and his group stumbled upon a transaction that was in progress and interrupted it by saying they had food stamp cards for sale. A middle-aged woman from Vietnam responded to Shirley’s inquiry and offered $60 for a card with $120 on it.

🚨 1 can of Spam for $120.
Food stamps have become the new ATM for fraudsters as they partner with local businesses to commit the fraud as they trade SNAP cards like Pokémon cards on the streets.

Across America food stamp fraud is happening everywhere. It has become a billion dollar fraudulent industry as taxpayers fund the $100 billion program.

We caught a fraudster on the streets of Seattle as she attempted to buy a can of spam and sushi for $120 in a food stamp for cash exchange, it’s a billion dollar fraudulent scheme stealing from the poor and hungry. This is a must watch and is happening everywhere.

EXPOSE AND SHUT IT ALL DOWN.

— Nick shirley (@nickshirleyy) October 7, 2026

Shirley and Grant Denton were then driven to a nearby business, where, according to Shirley, a can of Spam and a package of sushi were entered into a checkout terminal as a $120 purchase.

Shirley said he had found the cards on the ground in a homeless encampment and did not have a PIN to authorize the transaction. He left the store and confronted the woman about her alleged involvement.

“You’re committing fraud. Food stamp fraud. It’s against the law,” Shirley said.

The woman, who claimed her English-speaking skills were limited, replied, “I know, yeah.”

Confrontation escalates as group films in Chinatown-International District

The undercover investigation took a dangerous turn while the group was split up in separate parts of town. Shirley and Denton were told of a fight between three homeless people at an intersection that led to Jonathan Choe’s security guard having to intervene.

During the confrontation, the security guard’s firearm fell to the ground, and a nearby person picked it up, according to the video. Choe and those accompanying him then fled as several people chased them.

A homeless man joined Choe and the group as they fled, asking why they were running, and stated, “I’m on fenty, I can’t run.”

“This is arguably one of the most dangerous situations I’ve ever been in,” Choe said while driving away from the CID. “[Shirley’s] being targeted right now. Everyone’s saying, ‘Nick Shirley’s here, Nick Shirley’s here.’ We have to clear out of the area right now.”

Shirley has amassed more than seven million followers across social media platforms through his reporting on alleged fraud, including his widely viewed coverage of Somali-owned child care centers in Minnesota.

Shirley’s full video examining alleged food stamp fraud in Seattle’s Chinatown-International District is available below.

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