The use of SNAP,The Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program has increased substantially in recent years.

In Louisiana, 21% of people use food stamps to aid in bringing food into their homes to feed their families.

But while the program can be beneficial, many have found ways to get around the system.

The State Department of Children and Family Services recently announced the sentencing of seven people for defrauding the state of thousands of dollars in the SNAP program.

Four of them, all from the Shreveport area were convicted of taking 44-thousand dollars they were ineligible to receive.

Trey Williams with the department says there is one common way people try to beat the system.

"One of the common things of fraud we see is where people do not report everyone in their household," said Williams.

By doing so, it makes those who would be ineligible to attain SNAP benefits to be eligible to receive them.

In the fiscal year of 2012...The state of Louisiana indicated that Snap Intentional Program violations or fraud losses totaled one point four million dollars.

Williams says they use technology to track down fraud cases, by using a global information system that the state was the first to implement.

"We can actually look on a computer screen and get a map of an area and actually zoom in and look at a household or a street or an individual or even a store to see what kind of purchases are being made," said Williams.

While the fraud cases do end up costing the taxpayers, the DCFS is able to retrieve close to three million dollars in individuals who may commit fraud or abuse.

There are several ways you can go about reporting fraud of the snap program.

You can go to the Department of Children and Family Services website at dcfs.louisiana.gov/reportfraud.

This will allow you to fill out and submit a written form, you can also call the DCFS call center.

The number is 888-LA-HELP-U or 888-524-3578 and select option "7" to actually speak with someone in the fraud department.