CalFresh worker told me people arrested for EBT card theft - should I be worried about my benefits?

omg i heard about this too!!! my cousin said someone at the farmers market told her about it happening. do u think its employees at the calfresh office doing it???? scary!!!

This happens every few months where they bust some ring of thieves. What they're doing is installing skimmers at stores where lots of people use EBT, or sometimes they have pinhole cameras to capture your PIN. PROTECT YOURSELF!! Always check the card reader before inserting your card, cover your hand when entering your PIN, and change your PIN regularly through the EBT website. Also, I started checking my EBT balance DAILY on the app - if you see any transactions you didn't make, report it IMMEDIATELY! You have 90 days to dispute fraudulent transactions.

I work with a nonprofit that helps people with CalFresh issues, and this has unfortunately become more common. There's some important information everyone should know: 1. California now has a policy to replace stolen benefits in certain circumstances, but you MUST report the theft within 10 days 2. They will only replace up to two months of stolen benefits in a federal fiscal year (Oct-Sept) 3. The maximum replacement amount is $1,000 per incident 4. You need to file a police report for documentation The best protection is prevention - change your PIN regularly, check for skimmers at stores, and monitor your account frequently through the CalFresh Mobile app or BenefitsCal portal.

this happnd to my sister last month and she lost almost all her benefits!!! she went to buy groceries and her card was empty even tho she just got them 2 days before. took her WEEKS to get anyone on the phone at the county. such bs how they treat us!!

If anyone is having trouble reaching their CalFresh worker about stolen benefits or any other issues, I've been using this service called Claimyr that actually gets you through to a real person at the county office. You don't have to wait on hold for hours. I found it after my benefits were stolen last year and it saved me so much stress. Their website is claimyr.com and they have a video showing how it works: https://youtu.be/eZ19FHRETv8?si=_CXnXqNXbLl26WB8 It's the only way I was able to get my stolen benefits replaced within the 10-day reporting window.

To answer the question about taking all your money out at once - I wouldn't recommend it. That doesn't protect you from skimmers if they've already captured your card info. Instead: 1. Change your PIN immediately after any suspicious activity 2. DON'T use your EBT card at ATMs when possible (some states allow cash withdrawals for certain benefits) 3. Only shop at major grocery stores with well-maintained equipment 4. Check your balance frequently through the official CalFresh/EBT app 5. Set up alerts for transactions if your state's EBT system offers them Also, to clarify about the police report - you typically need the report number, not necessarily a physical copy. Some counties may want documentation but shouldn't charge you for it in fraud cases.

Discount stores aren't necessarily more risky, but you want to look for stores that regularly inspect and maintain their payment equipment. Some things to check at ANY store: - Wiggle the card reader before inserting your card - if it's loose, it might have a skimmer - Look for security seals on the card readers (many stores now use tamper-evident stickers) - Check if the PIN pad looks different from others at the same store - If a store has self-checkout, those are sometimes less monitored and more vulnerable One more tip - if you have a smartphone, take a picture of your receipt after each EBT purchase. If there's ever a dispute, you'll have proof of exactly what you bought and when.

my neighbor said the government can track everything u buy with ebt and thats how they catch people selling their benefits which is a FELONY just fyi be careful who u talk to about ur card

I just changed my PIN and set up text alerts for transactions! The worker at my county office finally called me back and confirmed there was a skimming operation they busted at several stores around town. She said they're working with the local police department and the USDA to investigate. She also mentioned they're planning to replace the affected clients' benefits but it could take 30-45 days for the funds to be restored. I'm checking my balance every morning now just to be safe. Thanks everyone for all the helpful advice!