Does CalFresh investigate EBT theft? Need to know if they actually check ATM cameras
My aunt's CalFresh EBT card was skimmed last week and someone took out all $765 of her benefits at an ATM across town. She reported it to both the local police and called the EBT customer service number to file a claim. They told her it would take 'up to 30 days' to investigate but were super vague about the process. Does anyone know if CalFresh/EBT actually checks the ATM cameras when benefits are stolen? Do they show victims the pictures of who took the money? She's a senior living on fixed income and really needs those benefits to eat this month. The county office just keeps telling her to 'wait for the investigation' but I'm worried they're not actually doing anything.
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Aisha Mohammed
they dont do anything lol. my benefits got stolen TWICE last year and all i got was a letter saying "no fraud detected" even tho someone took out $400 at 3am from an atm i never use. calfresh doesnt care about us
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Luca Ricci
•That's exactly what I'm afraid of. Did you ever get your benefits back or were you just out the money completely?
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Ethan Campbell
I went through this process last summer. Yes, they DO check cameras but only if the transaction was at a bank-owned ATM with working cameras. They don't show you the footage (privacy laws), but they document it in the investigation. The 30 days is real - it took 28 days for my claim to be processed and approved. In the meantime, have your aunt apply for emergency CalFresh benefits due to hardship - she should qualify given her age and circumstances. She'll need to fill out form CF 303 and submit it to her county worker.
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Luca Ricci
•Thank you so much for this information! I didn't know about the emergency benefits option. I'll help her fill out that form tomorrow. Did you eventually get all your stolen benefits back?
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Yuki Watanabe
my neighbor had this happen and the investigator told her they only check cameras if its over $1000 stolen cause otherwise its not worth their time!!! not sure if thats true or he was just being lazy
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Carmen Sanchez
•That's absolutely not true. EBT theft investigations are required regardless of the amount stolen. The $1000 threshold is for when they involve additional local law enforcement in the investigation, but all theft claims must be investigated according to CDSS regulations. I worked in the system for years - please don't spread misinformation that might discourage people from filing claims.
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Andre Dupont
I had my benefits stolen ($530) last year, and yes, they did check the ATM cameras. They don't show you the images directly, but they confirmed they had footage of the person. The investigation took exactly 21 days, and they replaced my benefits in full. Here's what helped speed things up: 1. File police report immediately (sounds like she did this) 2. Get the report number 3. Call your county worker DIRECTLY (not just the EBT hotline) 4. Submit form CF 303 for emergency replacement 5. Follow up every 3-4 days The process is frustratingly slow, but they do actually investigate. Keep all documentation of when and where the unauthorized transactions happened.
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Aisha Mohammed
•this must vary by county cause alameda did NOTHING for me
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Zoe Papadakis
I know how frustrating the wait is when you're depending on those benefits for food. If your aunt needs to speak directly with her county worker instead of waiting on hold forever, she might want to try using Claimyr. It's a service that waits on hold with CalFresh for you and calls you back when a real person answers. Saved me hours last month when I had a similar issue. They have a video showing how it works at https://youtu.be/eZ19FHRETv8?si=_CXnXqNXbLl26WB8 and their site is claimyr.com. Made it so much easier to get actual answers from my worker.
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Luca Ricci
•Thanks for the suggestion! Those hold times are killing us. We waited 2.5 hours yesterday and got disconnected. I'll check this out today because we really need to talk to someone who can help.
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Carmen Sanchez
EBT fraud investigator here. Yes, we absolutely check security footage when available, but we don't share those images with victims due to legal/privacy concerns and ongoing investigation protocols. The 30-day timeline is standard because we have to: 1. Verify the transaction details with the retailer/bank 2. Obtain and review any available footage 3. Cross-reference with other fraud patterns in the system 4. Complete documentation and approve/deny the claim In the meantime, your aunt should immediately: - Change her PIN if she hasn't already - Request emergency supplemental benefits (form CF 303) - Ask her county worker for referrals to local food banks - Keep checking her EBT account for any additional unauthorized transactions Approximately 85% of valid claims are approved and benefits are restored. The remaining 15% are typically denied due to insufficient evidence or other complicating factors.
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Yuki Watanabe
•if ur really a fraud investigator y do u guys take so long??? serious question not trying to be rude but ppl need to eat!
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Sofia Morales
•@Carmen Sanchez Thank you for sharing the insider perspective! This is really helpful to understand what actually happens during the investigation. The 85% approval rate is encouraging. One quick question - when you say change "her PIN, does" that help prevent future fraud, or is it mainly just a precaution? Also, do you know if there s'any way to expedite the process for seniors or people with medical conditions who really can t'wait the full 30 days for food?
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