CalFresh EBT card fraudulently drained at midnight - need emergency replacement before 10 days!

this happened 2 me last year!! same exact thing with the $175 charges and just numbers insted of a store name. Call ur county office DIRECTLY not just the EBT card number. tell them u need emergency replacement benefits bc of fraud. they can sometimes issue same-day benefits for hardship cases. good luck!! the EBT fraud is getting crazy now 😡

I'm sorry this happened to you. Unfortunately, EBT skimming has become extremely common in California. Those sequential $175 charges are a classic pattern for these scams. Here's what you should do: 1. You already reported it to the EBT customer service, which is good. 2. Contact your county CalFresh office and request expedited replacement benefits due to theft hardship. Bring your police report if you filed one. 3. Ask specifically about the "Expedited Emergency Allotment" process for fraud victims. 4. If denied, ask to speak with a supervisor and explain your household includes children. The standard 10-day investigation is typical, but counties have discretion to issue emergency benefits sooner in hardship cases. Also, be sure to create a new PIN immediately and consider picking up your replacement card in person rather than having it mailed.

They always say 10 days but mine took 3 weeks!!!!! And they tried to say I probably gave my card to someone 🙄 Make sure you keep calling every single day and get case numbers for each call so theres a record. the squeaky wheel gets the grease with these people trust me

Have you tried using Claimyr to get through to your county worker? It saved me SO much time when my benefits were stolen last month. Just go to claimyr.com and they'll call the county for you and get you connected to a real person without the hours of waiting. They have a video showing how it works here: https://youtu.be/eZ19FHRETv8?si=_CXnXqNXbLl26WB8 I was able to explain my emergency situation to an actual worker who processed my expedited benefits request. Got replacement benefits in 3 days instead of waiting the full 10. Definitely worth trying!

California actually just updated their policies about EBT theft replacement in 2025. County offices are now required to issue emergency replacement benefits within 3 business days for households with children, seniors, or disabled members when the theft amount exceeds 50% of monthly benefits. You'll need to complete the "EBT-2025 Theft Claim Attestation" form and possibly provide proof of household composition. I work with a community organization that helps people navigate these issues. Make sure to use the specific language "Requesting emergency replacement benefits under AB-1880 expanded provisions" when you call. This references the updated regulation and can help expedite your case.

Just to follow up: it's also important to protect your new EBT card once you get it. Here are some tips to prevent future theft: 1. Check for skimmers before swiping your card at any terminal 2. Change your PIN regularly (at least every 3 months) 3. Never share your PIN with anyone, even family members 4. Consider pulling out your benefits in 1-2 larger transactions rather than many small ones 5. Monitor your EBT account regularly through the BenefitsCal app or website 6. Avoid using your EBT card at standalone ATMs or gas stations (higher risk of skimmers) Also, when you go to the county office, bring your ID, EBT card (even though it's empty), any transaction records you can print, and documentation showing your household size (like children's birth certificates).

This just happened to me too! Exact same pattern! Multiple $175 charges at midnight. The fraud department told me that there's a ring of thieves targeting CalFresh cards in our area. They're using some kind of advanced skimming technology that can copy your card data even through your wallet. When you contact your county office, ask specifically for the "CalFresh Expedited Replacement Due to Theft" option. There's an actual checkbox on their internal form for this! I got my benefits back in 4 days instead of 10. Bring as much documentation as you can - ID, any transaction records, proof of children in household, etc. Also, request the new "enhanced security" EBT card that they started issuing this year with the chip technology. You have to specifically ask for it, but it's much harder to skim!