Raleigh, N.C. — A state audit has found that hundreds of people have used bogus Social Security numbers to obtain food stamps.

From July 2002 to last April, 1,906 people were receiving food stamps from the state Department of Social Services based on invalid Social Security numbers, the audit report stated. Another 1,237 food stamp recipients were using the Social Security numbers of dead people, according to the audit.

DSS security measures had previously disqualified 5,840 people from the food stamp program after determining they were using phony Social Security numbers, according to the audit.

The error rate was much less than 1 percent, which is an acceptable level, the audit report stated.

DSS officials said they have developed new screens to help validate the Social Security numbers of all food stamp recipients.