CalFresh EBT card suddenly showing 'lost/stolen' status but funds intact - skimming prevention?

This happened to me in February! It's definitely part of their new fraud prevention system. The county is proactively cancelling cards they suspect might be compromised based on where you've used them. Did you shop at any stores with those card readers that looked weird or loose? They're trying to prevent skimming before it happens. Unfortunately you'll need to request a replacement card - it takes 7-10 business days to arrive. You can call your county office to expedite it, but prepare for long wait times.

did u get any texts from the ebt fraud number? they sent me a text when they thought mine was skimmed asking if i made the purchase. then when i replied NO they cancelled my card automatically. check ur messages

Mine got cancelled too out of nowhere!! Thought I was the only one. So mad because I had to wait almost 2 weeks for new card while my kids were hungry!!! 😡

I used to work for the county and can confirm this is part of their new fraud prevention measures implemented in 2025. The system uses an algorithm to detect potentially compromised cards based on unusual purchasing patterns or high-risk merchant locations. The unfortunate part is they don't always notify clients before cancellation - that's a system limitation they're still working on. Here are your options: 1. Request replacement through BenefitsCal (slowest) 2. Call EBT Customer Service at 1-877-328-9677 (faster) 3. Visit county office in person (fastest but time-consuming) If you need food immediately, ask about emergency replacement procedures when you call. Some counties can issue same-day temporary cards.

If your trying to get through to someone at CalFresh by phone, good luck with that nightmare. I spent 4 hours on hold last week before getting disconnected. After that frustration, I found this service called Claimyr that got me connected to a real person at my county office in about 10 minutes. They basically wait on hold for you and call you when a real person picks up. Saved me so much time and stress! Their website is claimyr.com and they have a video showing how it works: https://youtu.be/eZ19FHRETv8?si=_CXnXqNXbLl26WB8. Worth it when you're desperate to get your benefits sorted out quickly.

The CalFresh department is INTENTIONALLY cancelling cards without notice! It's their way of making it harder for people to access benefits. They know exactly what they're doing. I've had my card randomly cancelled TWICE this year with no explanation. Each time they claim it's for "security" but they never have proof of any actual fraud attempt. It's all about controlling poor people and making us jump through more hoops. The whole system is designed to frustrate us into giving up.

Update on the EBT card situation: California is actually rolling out chip-enabled EBT cards starting next month to address the skimming issue permanently. In the meantime, here's a tip: you can transfer your EBT benefits to a mobile payment app now. Log into BenefitsCal, go to EBT Account Management, and select "Enable mobile payment options." This lets you use your benefits through a secure digital wallet while waiting for your replacement physical card. Not all stores accept it yet, but most major grocery chains do.

my sister had this happen n they told her it was cuz she shopped at walmart n there was alot of fraud there so they just cancelled everyones card who shopped there that week?!! so stupid

whats the update? did u get ur new card yet or find a way to use ur benefits?

This is really helpful info everyone! I'm a new CalFresh recipient and had no idea about the mobile payment option or that they were being so proactive about fraud prevention. Good to know what to expect if this happens to me. Quick question - when you set up the mobile payment through BenefitsCal, do you need to verify your identity again or does it just link to your existing case automatically? Also wondering if there are any fees for using the mobile option vs the physical card?

Just want to add that if anyone is still struggling with getting through to customer service, try calling the EBT hotline early in the morning (like 8am) or late afternoon after 4pm - those tend to be less busy times. Also, if you have to visit your county office in person, many locations now allow you to schedule appointments online which saves hours of waiting. Check your county's website for their online scheduling system. I learned this the hard way after waiting 3 hours at the office only to be told I could have made an appointment! The whole EBT fraud prevention thing is definitely a necessary evil given how bad the skimming has gotten, but they really need to work on their communication with clients.

This thread has been so helpful! I'm relatively new to CalFresh and had no idea about any of these issues or solutions. A few months ago I would have panicked if my card suddenly stopped working, but now I know about the mobile payment option and the fraud prevention system. It's reassuring to know there are workarounds while waiting for replacement cards. One thing I'm curious about - does anyone know if the new chip-enabled cards will completely eliminate the skimming problem, or will scammers just find new ways around it? Also wondering if the mobile payment option will become the primary way to use benefits in the future, kind of like how everything else is going digital these days.