CalFresh scam alert? Got call about new EBT card I didn't request

SCAM SCAM SCAM!!! CalFresh NEVER calls you about a new card unless YOU request one first! This is a common scam to get your personal info and drain your benefits. My cousin fell for this last month and lost ALL her benefits ($960) in one day at some store 50 miles away. CalFresh will ONLY mail a new card if your current one is reported lost/stolen/damaged or expired. They NEVER randomly issue new ones.

This is definitely a scam attempt. CalFresh/EBT cards are only issued when you specifically request one or when your current card is about to expire. The county offices will never call you asking for personal information to verify your identity - they already have your information in their system. You should report this to both: 1. Your county CalFresh office 2. The California EBT Customer Service at 1-877-328-9677 They can flag your account and make sure no one has attempted to access your benefits. They can also confirm your card is still active and hasn't been compromised.

happened to me to!! they said my card was being replaced cuz of fraud but i didnt report anything. asked for my SSN and birthdate to 'confirm' but i hung up. these scammers are getting smarter

When I had trouble with scam calls like this last year, I spent HOURS trying to reach someone at the CalFresh office to report it. Kept getting disconnected or stuck in the automated system. Finally found this service called Claimyr (claimyr.com) that got me through to an actual person at my county office in like 20 minutes. They have a video showing how it works: https://youtu.be/eZ19FHRETv8?si=_CXnXqNXbLl26WB8 Definitely worth it when you need to talk to someone urgently about account security. The county worker told me they were seeing an increase in these scam attempts targeting EBT cardholders.

This is 100% a scam. I work with benefit programs and we've seen a huge increase in these calls. Some things to know: 1. CalFresh will NEVER call asking for your full card number, PIN, or SSN 2. New cards are only issued when requested or at expiration 3. Legitimate county calls about your case will reference specific case details and recent actions 4. When in doubt, hang up and call the number on your EBT card You can also set up text/email alerts for any EBT transactions through the ConnectEBT app or website. That way you'll know immediately if someone accesses your benefits.

my friend got the same call last week they said some nonsense about a "system upgrade" requiring new cards for everyone lol. same script asking for personal info. calfresh isnt going to randomly upgrade all their cards at once thats not how government programs work!

I actually DID get a legitimate new card last month, but that's because my old one expired. They mail it automatically about a month before expiration with instructions. They NEVER called me about it - just showed up in the mail. And they definitely never asked for personal info over the phone. Protect your benefits - these scammers specifically target EBT recipients.

MAKE SURE you report this!!! These scammers are getting so bold. My neighbor got the same call and they even threatened that her benefits would be CANCELED if she didn't verify her info!! She got scared and gave her info and they wiped her account clean within HOURS. The county told her there's been HUNDREDS of similar reports. The county is supposed to do fraud investigations but they're SO SLOW to respond!!!

Based on all the responses, it's clear this is a scam. To summarize for anyone else reading this thread: 1. Report the scam call to your county CalFresh office 2. Check your EBT balance regularly 3. Set up transaction alerts through the ConnectEBT app 4. Never give personal information to someone who calls you 5. If you suspect fraud, report it immediately (within 10 days) to be eligible for benefit replacement 6. Always call the official numbers directly rather than responding to incoming calls Stay safe everyone!