This is such an important thread! I just want to add one more tip that helped me feel more secure - I actually called the legitimate EBT customer service number (the one on the back of my card) and asked them to add extra security notes to my account. They can put flags that require additional verification before any changes are made. Also, for anyone who's elderly or not as comfortable with technology, please share this information with family members or caregivers. My grandmother almost fell for one of these scams last month because she didn't know about the new tactics they're using. These scammers are specifically targeting older adults and people who might be less familiar with how the system actually works. One more thing - if you do get a suspicious call, try to write down or remember as many details as possible: the phone number that called you, what time they called, exactly what they said, and any background noises you heard. The fraud investigators said this information helps them track down these scam operations and potentially shut them down. Every detail matters in protecting our community!

Thank you so much for starting this thread! I just joined this community and this is exactly the kind of information I needed. I actually got a similar call about a week ago but didn't think much of it at the time - now I'm realizing it was probably one of these scams too. The caller said something about "updating my EBT information" and left a callback number, but I was busy and never called back. Now I'm so glad I didn't! Reading through everyone's experiences is both scary and reassuring - scary to see how common these scams are, but reassuring to know there are so many people looking out for each other in this community. I'm going to follow all the advice here: download the ebtEDGE app, set up transaction alerts, save all the legitimate numbers in my phone, and definitely report any future suspicious calls to that fraud hotline. It's disgusting that criminals are targeting people who rely on food assistance, but I'm grateful we have spaces like this to warn each other and share protective strategies. Stay vigilant everyone!

This thread is so eye-opening and scary at the same time! I've been on CalFresh for about 6 months and have been pretty careless with my card - using it at random corner stores, gas stations, you name it. After reading everyone's stories about losing hundreds of dollars, I'm honestly shocked this isn't talked about more when you first get approved. I had no idea about changing your PIN monthly or that 7-Eleven stores might be compromised. I've definitely used my card there multiple times recently. Now I'm paranoid that my benefits might get stolen too. Thank you @Aileen Rodriguez for the detailed info about the CF 303 form and AB 1270 - I'm saving this info just in case. And @NebulaKnight thanks for the text balance tip! I just tried texting "BAL" to 96977 and it worked perfectly. I'm definitely going to check this every day now. This whole situation just shows how vulnerable we are in this system. It's already hard enough to make ends meet, and now we have to worry about criminals stealing the little help we do get. But at least we have each other to share information and protect one another. This community is amazing!

This thread has been incredibly valuable - thank you all for sharing your experiences and practical advice! I'm fairly new to receiving CalFresh benefits and honestly had no idea that EBT skimming was such a widespread problem. Reading about everyone's stolen benefits is both heartbreaking and eye-opening. I've been pretty careless about where I use my card, but after seeing how much money people are losing (hundreds of dollars that take weeks to replace!), I'm definitely going to change my habits. The tips about wiggling card readers, changing PINs monthly, and using the text balance check (96977) are going to be part of my routine now. One thing that really stood out to me is how the system seems designed to make it hard for victims to get help. Having to fill out forms, file police reports, and wait weeks for replacement benefits while your family goes hungry is just wrong. We're already struggling, and then when we become victims of crime, we're treated like we did something wrong. I'm going to start shopping only at major grocery chains and avoid those standalone ATMs completely. And I'm definitely going to ask my caseworker about those text alerts @Sofia Morales mentioned - that sounds like it could really help catch theft quickly. Thanks to everyone for looking out for each other and sharing this crucial information. It's terrible that we have to become experts in fraud prevention just to safely access our benefits, but at least we can protect ourselves with knowledge!

I'm so glad I found this thread! I've been having the exact same issues with the ebtEDGE app for weeks now - it's incredibly frustrating when you're trying to manage your benefits and the technology just doesn't work. @Connor Gallagher I'm really happy you were able to get your card unfrozen and get groceries for your kids tonight! As someone who works in community outreach, I see these app problems constantly. The ebtEDGE system is notorious for glitches, especially during high-traffic periods or maintenance windows like @Natasha Orlova mentioned. It's honestly unacceptable that families have to deal with this kind of stress when trying to access their benefits. For anyone still struggling with similar issues, I wanted to add that some county offices also have EBT customer service representatives available during business hours who can help with card management over the phone. It might be worth calling your local CalFresh office directly if the main EBT line has long wait times. They can't always help with everything, but many can assist with basic card functions like freezing/unfreezing. Also, keep documentation of any app issues you experience - dates, times, error messages, etc. If these problems cause you to miss accessing your benefits or result in any losses, that documentation can be helpful when filing complaints or requesting benefit replacements. The system should work for us, not against us!

Just wanted to jump in and say how grateful I am for threads like this! I'm relatively new to CalFresh and had no idea there were so many backup options when the ebtEDGE app fails. I've been banging my head against the wall for the past two weeks trying to get the app to work properly - constant login errors, random crashes, and password reset emails that never arrive. Reading everyone's experiences makes me feel so much less alone in this struggle. @Connor Gallagher I'm so glad you were able to get your card unfrozen and feed your kids! That's exactly the kind of situation that shows how critical these backup systems are. And @Paolo Longo your detailed breakdown of the phone system process is incredibly helpful - I'm screenshot-ing that for future reference. The tip about documenting app issues from @Fatima Al-Qasimi is something I wish I'd known earlier. I've probably lost hours of my life to this glitchy app, and keeping records could have been useful for reporting these problems. One thing I'm curious about - has anyone had success getting the app issues escalated to actually get them fixed? Or do we just have to accept that the phone system is our main reliable option? It seems like such a widespread problem that there should be more pressure to improve the app experience for everyone relying on these benefits. Thanks again to everyone for sharing your knowledge and helping newcomers like me navigate this system!

That's awesome that it worked out so well for you! $47 reduction is totally manageable for the extra income you'll be getting. Just wanted to add - when you report the job ending in January, make sure to include your final pay stub showing the last date worked. Sometimes they need that proof to process the change quickly. Also keep copies of everything for your records in case there are any questions later. Good luck with the seasonal job!

Great thread! As someone who's been navigating CalFresh for a while, I just wanted to emphasize something that might not be obvious to newcomers - even though reporting income changes can feel scary (like your benefits might get cut), it's actually protecting you in the long run. The overpayment situations people mentioned are real and they can be financially devastating when they catch up with you later. One thing I learned the hard way is to always take screenshots or print confirmations when you submit reports through BenefitsCal. Sometimes their system glitches and you want proof you submitted on time. Also, if you're ever unsure about whether something needs to be reported, err on the side of caution and report it. I've never heard of anyone getting in trouble for reporting too much information, but I've definitely seen people get burned for not reporting enough. @Aisha Khan - sounds like you handled this perfectly! The fact that you asked the question here first shows you're being responsible about it.

Just wanted to add that I've been dealing with this same issue! Started having problems about a week ago when trying to check my remaining balance before grocery shopping. The website would load but then crash when I tried to log in. I found that clearing my browser cache and cookies helped sometimes - not a permanent fix but got me in once or twice. Also discovered you can text your EBT card number to 511-411 to get your balance sent back as a text message, which has been super helpful when the website is down. Really appreciate everyone sharing these workarounds and resources - this community is so much more helpful than trying to navigate the county office phone system!

I'm so glad I found this thread! I've been having the exact same issues with BenefitsCal for the past week and was starting to panic thinking my account got suspended or something. I'm pretty new to CalFresh (just got approved last month) and wasn't sure if this was normal or a real problem. Reading through everyone's responses has been incredibly helpful - especially learning about the maintenance period and all the alternative ways to check balance like the text option and phone number. I had no idea there was a mobile app either! It's frustrating that they don't communicate these outages better to users, but I'm relieved to know it's temporary and that there are workarounds. Thank you all for sharing your experiences and solutions - this community seems way more responsive than any official support channels I've tried!