Debunking Claim: Hacker Eric Brown Jr. Approved Mississippi Food Stamp Requests

In early July 2025, a sensational rumor spread like wildfire across social media platforms, claiming that a man named Eric Brown Jr. had hacked into the human services system of Hinds County, Mississippi, and approved all pending food stamp applications. The outlandish claim further alleged that Brown was arrested for his supposed crime and posted a $100,000 bail.

Internet users shared versions of the rumor widely across Facebook, Threads, and X, with some users adding further details, such as that Brown had new EBT cards mailed out to applicants with $2,500 loaded on each, and even credited existing cardholders with an extra $2,500. The story was often accompanied by a Fox News logo and claimed that it would be featured on the network "tonight."

However, despite the widespread sharing of this rumor, it was entirely unfounded. Mark Jones, chief communications officer for the Mississippi Department of Human Services (MDHS), quickly debunked the claim when contacted by Snopes via email.

"This is not a true story. If this were true, MDHS would have released a media alert, posted on social and announced any arrests through official channels like our website."

A search of the Fox News website for "Eric Brown Mississippi" revealed that the name was associated with a crime suspect in a February 2025 article, but it was not related to the rumor in question.

Furthermore, a check of Hinds County websites found that they had been hacked in 2015 and 2023, but neither incident was linked to an alleged MDHS hack. Additionally, a search of the Hinds County inmate list and arrests from early July 2025 did not find anyone by the name of Eric Brown, nor were any credible news outlets reporting on this claim.

This is not the first time that similar claims have circulated online. In 2019, the fact-checking outlet AFP Fact Check investigated the original circulation of a similar rumor and found that it originated from a social media user who claimed to have created humorous posts for entertainment purposes.

The same user later confirmed to Snopes via Instagram message that they were the originator of the story, using their own likeness but not creating the image allegedly depicting Brown. AI detection platforms Hive Moderation and Sightengine also detected that the purported image of Brown was generated using artificial intelligence (AI).

Conclusion

In conclusion, the claim that hacker Eric Brown Jr. approved Mississippi food stamp requests and was arrested for the crime was a baseless rumor with no factual basis. We urge readers to be cautious when sharing or consuming online content, especially when it comes from unverified sources.