CalFresh EBT funds disappeared right after activation - money gone within 3 hours!

omg this happened to my cousin last year! definitely sounds like fraud. you need to call the EBT fraud hotline ASAP (not the regular customer service) and they'll put a hold on your account and start an investigation. the number should be on the back of your card or in your welcome packet. don't wait on this!

You need to contact your county worker immediately. This sounds like either fraud OR potentially an account error. Sometimes the system shows benefits as issued but they haven't actually been deposited yet. Another possibility is that you're looking at the wrong balance - the EBT card has separate balances for CalFresh and cash benefits, make sure you're checking the food benefits section.

This definitely needs immediate attention. Here's what you should do: 1. Call the EBT Customer Service (1-877-328-9677) and report the unauthorized transaction. They can place a temporary hold on your card. 2. Contact your county CalFresh office first thing tomorrow morning to report this. Bring your EBT card and any documentation showing when you received and activated it. 3. Request an emergency replacement of benefits. Under California rules, if benefits were stolen due to no fault of your own, you may be eligible for replacement. 4. Ask for a transaction report - this will show exactly when and where the benefits were used. The good news is that most counties take EBT theft very seriously. If you report it promptly, there's a good chance you'll get replacement benefits within 10 days.

I had something very similar happen and it took me DAYS to get through to anyone who could help. The EBT customer service line is absolutely worthless - I was disconnected 6 times before getting a human. When I finally got through to my county office, they told me there was a 10-day investigation period before they could replace anything. Meanwhile I had kids to feed! The system is so broken.

If you need to contact your county CalFresh office quickly, I'd recommend trying Claimyr. It helped me get through to an actual human at my county office when I had benefits stolen. They'll wait on hold for you and call you back when a worker picks up. Saved me hours of frustration. Their website is claimyr.com and they have a video showing how it works: https://youtu.be/eZ19FHRETv8?si=_CXnXqNXbLl26WB8

Make sure you get a fraud investigation case number when you report this! Without the case number, it's too easy for them to lose track of your report. Also, document EVERYTHING - write down the date and time of your card activation, when you discovered the funds missing, and the names of everyone you talk to. This will be extremely important if they try to claim you used the benefits yourself.

check if theres a food bank near u that can help while u wait for this to get fixed. 211 can tell u where emergency food assistance is available. dont wait for calfresh to figure it out cause it can take WEEKS sometimes

Based on your situation, this sounds like either electronic theft or a system error. When you call the EBT customer service again: 1. Ask for transaction details showing WHERE the benefits were used. If they were used at a store you've never been to, that strengthens your fraud claim. 2. Request an "immediate need" replacement. In California, your county office can issue emergency benefits in cases of theft, though they often don't tell clients about this option unless specifically asked. 3. Request a new card with a different account number, as your current card information has clearly been compromised. Also, when you contact your county office, specifically ask about the "Expedited Services" criteria - if you have less than $150 in monthly income and less than $100 in resources, you may qualify for expedited replacement benefits within 3 days rather than waiting the full investigation period.

btw theres been a lot of EBT skimming fraud lately in california. thieves put card skimmers on store card readers or ATMs that steal ur card info and PIN. did u use the card at an ATM or swipe it anywhere before the money disappeared?

u might wanna check if anyone else in ur household coudve used it... sometimes family members think its ok to use ur benefits without asking... just saying

UPDATE: I just spoke with a CalFresh policy specialist about a similar case, and there's been a recent increase in what's called "card cloning" where thieves somehow get your card information and PIN before the card even reaches you. California recently implemented some additional fraud protection measures, but they're not fully in place yet. When you talk to your county office, specifically mention "card cloning fraud" and request the "EBT 2919 Stolen Benefits Investigation Form" - this puts your case into a specific fraud category that may speed up the replacement process. Also, they recently changed the replacement policy - if you report within 4 calendar days of discovering the theft, you're much more likely to get a full replacement. So make sure to formally report this TODAY, even if just through the EBT customer service line.

keep us updated on what happens!! really hope u get ur benefits back quickly!!