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Is anyone else seeing a HUGE increase in EBT theft this year??? My sister got her benefits stolen in January, my coworker in March, and now me last week! I think something bigger is going on. The county offices should be taking this more seriously instead of making it so hard to report!!!
There has been a documented increase in EBT skimming theft in California. The state implemented new chip cards that started rolling out in late 2024, but not everyone has received them yet. If you haven't gotten a chip card, you can request one from your county office. In the meantime, check your balance frequently and transfer benefits to a separate account if your county offers that option.
UPDATE: I finally got through! For anyone else dealing with this issue, here's what worked: I went to my county office in person this morning with my EBT card, ID, and screenshots of the transactions. The worker helped me fill out the EBT-2259 form and said I should receive provisional credits within 10 days while they investigate. She also mentioned they're now requiring police reports for claims over $500, so I'll need to file one online and send them the report number. Thank you everyone for your help! The in-person visit was definitely the way to go.
awesome! glad u got it figured out. how long did u have to wait at the office?
My benefits only went down about $30/month after reporting the extra income. They let me deduct some of my craft supplies as business expenses, which helped. The worker said as long as I was reporting it now and hadn't gone over my IRT, they weren't concerned about the past months. Just be upfront at your recertification and you should be fine.
Thanks everyone for the advice! I feel much better about my upcoming recertification now. I'll be honest about the side income and bring documentation of when it started. And I'll try that Claimyr service if I can't get through on the phone tomorrow to ask any follow-up questions. Appreciate all the help!
This is kinda off topic but speaking of the BenefitsCal website... does anyone know why it always logs me out after like 2 minutes? I'll be in the middle of uploading verification docs and suddenly I'm logged out and have to start over. So frustrating!
It has a really short timeout period for security reasons. I think it's like 3-5 minutes of inactivity. What I do is prepare everything BEFORE I log in - have all my documents scanned and ready to upload, info written down, etc. Then I can quickly do what I need to before it times out.
@OP glad you got your font issue resolved! For anyone else experiencing display problems with BenefitsCal or other government websites, I recommend checking these settings: 1. Browser zoom (Ctrl+ or Ctrl- to adjust) 2. Font settings in your browser (usually in Settings > Appearance) 3. Extensions or add-ons that might modify web content 4. Windows/Mac accessibility settings that override website fonts 5. Check if your browser needs updating Also, the BenefitsCal mobile app sometimes works better than the website for basic tasks like checking your balance or uploading verification documents.
my mom had her calfresh stole last year but she didn't report it till almost 60 days later cause she thought it was my brother using her card (he wasn't) and they still replaced it for her so don't worry they will give it back just takes time
UPDATE: Finally got through to someone today! Used that Claimyr service and actually spoke to a real person after trying for days. Turns out I was missing some documentation - they needed the actual police report not just the number. Also I had to verify again that I wasn't the one who did the transaction. They said once I email the missing documents I should get the replacement benefits in 7-10 days. They also referred me to two local food banks that can help in the meantime. Thanks everyone for your help!!
Mia Rodriguez
The whole EBT system is broken. Why don't they have better security?? My friend said they should add fingerprint verification to EBT cards like they have on phones. They spend billions on these programs but can't protect our benefits from thieves!!
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Amelia Martinez
•They actually ARE upgrading EBT security in California, but it's taking forever to implement. In the meantime, here's what the county worker told me: change your PIN monthly, check the card reader for skimmers before inserting your card, and set up transaction alerts in the BenefitsCal app. These steps help prevent most theft situations.
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Mason Davis
did u check ur transaction history? maybe it wasnt fraud maybe someone in ur household spent it and isnt telling u?
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Elijah Jackson
•Yes I checked the transaction history. It shows 4 separate purchases at stores in Chicago all within 1 hour. We live in Sacramento and have never been to Illinois. My husband and kids were all at home with me when it happened. It's definitely fraud.
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