CalFresh EBT card theft epidemic - my benefits stolen for third time this year!
Just sitting in the Sacramento County office for the THIRD TIME since January because my EBT benefits were stolen AGAIN. The waiting room is packed with people all saying the same thing - benefits stolen! One woman just stood up and started telling the workers they need to fix their system because this is completely unacceptable. I couldn't agree more! My situation is beyond frustrating. I got my February benefits ($435) on the 10th, checked my balance that night, everything was fine. Woke up on the 11th and EVERY PENNY was gone - transactions in cities I've never even visited! Called the EBT hotline, reported it stolen, got a replacement card, and now I'm waiting for them to investigate and "maybe" replace my benefits in 7-10 business days. This happened to me twice already - once in January and once in November. Each time they promise they're "enhancing security" but nothing changes. My family can't keep waiting weeks for replacement benefits while they "investigate." Is anyone else experiencing this constantly? What are we supposed to do? I'm seriously considering asking if they can just give me actual paper food stamps again like the old days. At least those couldn't be hacked!
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Andre Dupont
This is unfortunately becoming an epidemic. The EBT skimming problem is hitting nearly every county in California. Here's what might help protect you: 1. Change your PIN immediately after benefits are deposited and before making any purchases 2. Check your balance daily to catch theft quickly 3. Request the "EBT card freeze" feature be activated on your account (you can unfreeze it for 24 hours when you need to shop) 4. Never use your card at standalone ATMs - only use ones inside grocery stores The investigation process should be faster than 7-10 days. If you have dependent children, request an expedited replacement due to hardship. They're required to replace stolen benefits within 3 business days for households with children under emergency protocols.
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Carmen Lopez
•Thank you for these tips! I didn't know about the card freeze option. Will definitely ask about that today. And I DO have 2 kids under 10, so I'll specifically request the expedited replacement. The worker last time just gave me the standard "7-10 days" line without mentioning faster options. Do you know if they ever actually catch these thieves? It's infuriating thinking someone is just getting away with this over and over.
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QuantumQuasar
omg same thing happened 2 me TWICE already this year!!!! my whole $378 was gone the day after it hit my account. these scammers r getting smarter i swear. worker told me they using some kind of skimmer things on store card readers now??? like how we supposed to know which stores r safe????
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Zoe Papanikolaou
•I've been seeing these skimmers too. They're practically invisible - thin plastic overlays on regular card readers. Best practice now is to wiggle/tug on the card reader before inserting your card. If it feels loose at all, don't use it and alert the store manager. Also, when possible, use the tap feature if your new EBT card has it. The newer cards are starting to include the tap-to-pay chip which is much harder to skim than the magnetic stripe.
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Jamal Wilson
Happened to me too! I waited THREE HOURS at Alameda County office last month for the same issue. The whole system is broken. My caseworker basically told me they're overwhelmed with theft reports and can't keep up. Meanwhile my kids had nothing to eat for 5 days while I waited for the replacement benefits. What happens if you need medicine or have dietary restrictions? The state doesn't care.
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Mei Lin
•If you're in an emergency situation with no food, you should contact your local food bank immediately. Many now have special programs specifically for EBT theft victims. Also, call 211 and ask about emergency food assistance programs. I worked with a client last week who got same-day emergency CalFresh benefits (separate from theft replacement) because she had children and zero food in the house. You have to specifically request the emergency allotment though - they won't offer it unless you ask.
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Liam Fitzgerald
I had my benefits stolen 4 times last year!! It's absolutely insane. After the last time, I tried calling the county for weeks - constant busy signals, disconnections, or being on hold for literally hours only to get hung up on. I finally used Claimyr (claimyr.com) to get through to a real person at my county office. They got me connected to a CalFresh worker in under 20 minutes when I'd been trying for days on my own. The worker set me up with the card freeze feature AND expedited my replacement benefits. They have a video showing how it works: https://youtu.be/eZ19FHRETv8?si=_CXnXqNXbLl26WB8 Literally saved my sanity after weeks of frustration.
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Carmen Lopez
•I've never heard of this service but I'm going to try it next time (though hopefully there won't BE a next time). I spent 3 hours on hold last week only to get disconnected when they finally answered. It's like they make it impossible to get help on purpose!
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Amara Nnamani
This is why I always withdraw my entire benefit amount as soon as it posts and use the cash to buy groceries. Yes, it's less convenient than using the card, but I haven't had a single theft since I started doing this. The county worker actually suggested this method to me after my second theft.
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Andre Dupont
•This isn't actually correct advice for CalFresh (food stamps). You cannot withdraw CalFresh benefits as cash - that's only possible with CalWORKs cash aid. CalFresh benefits can only be used to purchase eligible food items directly with the EBT card. This is a common misconception that mixes up the two programs that both use the same EBT card.
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Carmen Lopez
Update: Just got called in after waiting 2+ hours. The worker told me they're seeing HUNDREDS of theft reports weekly now in Sacramento County alone. They're supposedly implementing a new security system in April that will allow us to lock/unlock our benefits through a mobile app rather than having to call in. The good news: I qualified for expedited replacement because I have kids! Should have the benefits back within 3 business days. The bad news: They said if it happens again, they'll need to do a more extensive investigation which could take longer. Thanks everyone for your tips and commiseration. This whole situation is maddening.
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Mei Lin
•That mobile app sounds promising! Other states have implemented similar systems with great results. Until then, another tip is to transfer your benefits to a separate EBT account as soon as they deposit (if you have multiple household members eligible for their own cards). Thieves typically only target the primary account. Glad you got the expedited timeline! Make sure to follow up if you don't see the benefits by Wednesday.
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Jamal Wilson
anybody else notice that the theft always happens right after benefits are deposited?? like they know exactly when our money comes in. makes me think it's an inside job tbh. too much coincidence.
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QuantumQuasar
•OMG YES!!! mine always disappears within 24hrs of deposit!! never thought about it being inside job but ur right, how they know exactly when to steal it?? scary to think about
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Zoe Papanikolaou
I work with CalFresh recipients daily, and here's what I'm telling everyone: 1. Request a new EBT card even if yours hasn't been compromised yet 2. When you receive the new card, IMMEDIATELY change the PIN 3. Call the EBT customer service line and request the "card freeze" feature be activated 4. Only unfreeze your card immediately before shopping, then freeze it again after 5. Check your balance through the official app DAILY The latest skimming devices can capture both your card data and PIN in seconds. The thieves are targeting certain stores and specific days of the month when benefits are typically distributed. Paper food stamps aren't coming back, but many counties are piloting direct deposit options for CalFresh similar to how they handle CalWORKs. Ask your worker if your county is part of the pilot program.
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Carmen Lopez
•This is incredibly helpful. I didn't realize I could proactively request a new card. I'm going to do that right away and set up all these security measures. I asked about the direct deposit option and my worker said Sacramento County isn't in the pilot yet, but they're supposed to join later this year. Fingers crossed!
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