Exchanging benefits for cash comes at a cost, both for taxpayers and those perpetrating the scam. In a typical scenario, a customer might trade $100 worth of benefits for $50 cash, leaving the other $50 for the retailer. For corner stores with razor-thin margins, such high-risk deals might represent a source of needed income. Customers lose a portion of their benefits in the deal, but they walk away with cash that can be used for expenses that can't be paid for with SNAP benefits, which are intended only for food.