Can someone withdraw cash from my EBT account without having my card? Worried about theft!

Yes, unfortunately card skimming has become a real problem with EBT cards. Thieves install tiny devices on store card readers that capture your card number and PIN when you use it. Then they create a duplicate card. Always check card readers for anything suspicious before inserting your card, and cover the keypad when entering your PIN. You need to report this to both the EBT Customer Service (1-877-328-9677) AND your county CalFresh office right away. Request a new card with a new number, and make sure they flag your account for fraud investigation. They should replace your stolen benefits, but you'll need to fill out an affidavit.

same thing hapend to me last yr!!! my card was in my purse but sum1 took $180 from atm in city ive never been to! take pics of ur card front+back RIGHT NOW before u report it stolen. u need 2 call EBT fraud line not regular cust service. they replaced mine after like 6 weeks

There's been a huge increase in CalFresh EBT fraud, especially card skimming. I work at a community legal aid office and we've had dozens of clients with this exact issue since January. Here's what you need to do: 1. Call EBT Customer Service (1-877-328-9677) and report fraud immediately 2. Ask them to deactivate your current card 3. Request a replacement card with a new number 4. File a police report - this is important for the benefit replacement process 5. Contact your county CalFresh office and specifically ask for their "EBT benefit theft replacement form" 6. Submit that form along with the police report By law, they must replace your stolen benefits if you follow this process, but ONLY if you report it within 90 days of the theft. The replacement can take 2-3 months though, so be prepared for that.

I tried reaching my county CalFresh office for WEEKS about a similar issue and kept getting stuck in their phone system. Finally used a service called Claimyr (claimyr.com) that got me through to a real person in under 10 minutes. They have a video demo here: https://youtu.be/eZ19FHRETv8?si=_CXnXqNXbLl26WB8 They called, navigated the phone tree, waited on hold, then called me when a real worker picked up. Saved me hours of frustration. My stolen benefits were actually replaced within 3 weeks after I finally got through.

Benefit theft is a MASSIVE issue that the state is REFUSING to properly address!! In 2024 alone, over $19 MILLION in CalFresh benefits were stolen in California. The EBT cards use outdated magnetic stripe technology instead of chip cards like regular credit cards. I've been fighting with my county for MONTHS over $340 that was stolen from my account. They keep saying they're "processing" my replacement claim. Meanwhile my kids don't eat. CONTACT YOUR STATE REPRESENTATIVE about this - it's the only way anything will change!

when this happened to me last year thear was $378 stolen the county made me fill out a from called "EBT-106C Claim of SNAP Benefit Theft." You need to ask for that specific form. If they try to tell you benefits can't be replaced, that's wrong, the law changed in 2022 and now they HaVE to replace stolen benefits. But they don't tell people about this. Also the investigator asked me for my last 3 months bank statements which seemed weird bc it was EBT not my bank?? But my friend who works at the county said thats normal, they want to make sure you really didnt take the money out yourself.

Have you checked if someone in your household might know your PIN? Sometimes it's someone close to you. My roommate's boyfriend was taking money from her EBT card for months before she caught him.

SUPER IMPORTANT they only replace benefits if u report within 90 days!!!! also don't wait 2 change ur pin just because u reported it. call right now 877-328-9677 and change ur pin immediately then request a new card. my cousin waited 2 days to change his pin after reporting and they took another $200!!!