EBT card completely emptied - didn't know CalFresh theft was happening!

omg this is happening everywhere lately! someone got my cousins whole balance last month. think they do the skimmer things on the card readers 😡

I'm so sorry this happened to you. Unfortunately, EBT card skimming has become very common in 2025. Here's what you need to do immediately: 1. File a police report - you'll need this for the county's investigation 2. Contact your county CalFresh office (not just the EBT customer service) and report the theft 3. Ask specifically for an "EBT-2259 Benefit Theft Claim Form" - this is required for benefit replacement 4. Request a new EBT card with a different number 5. When you get your new card, immediately create a PIN that's not easily guessed (no birthdays or sequential numbers) The good news is that California passed a law guaranteeing replacement of stolen benefits. You should get them back, but it typically takes 10-14 business days for the investigation and replacement.

same thing happened 2 me last spring. took FOREVER to get money back. whole system is broken. they make u fill out so much paperwork just to prove YOU didnt steal from urself lol. good luck gettin anyone on the phone!!

You need to file the theft report within 30 days of discovering the theft, and you can get a full replacement of whatever was stolen. The county has 10 business days to investigate once they have your completed EBT-2259 form. One important thing - you should check your actual transaction history through the EBT app or by calling the number on the back of your card. Write down all the fraudulent transactions with dates, times, and store locations. This will speed up your investigation significantly. Also, for future protection, I recommend checking your balance every 2-3 days and immediately after getting your monthly benefits. You can also "freeze" your EBT card through the app when you're not using it, which prevents anyone from using it until you "unfreeze" it.

Hey there! I work with people dealing with benefit issues, and just wanted to mention that reaching the county CalFresh workers for the theft claim can be extremely difficult right now with all the recent theft cases. If you're having trouble getting through to report this and file your claim, you might want to try Claimyr (claimyr.com). They have a service that helps you get through to actual CalFresh workers without waiting for hours. Really helped one of my clients recently with a similar situation. They have a video that shows how it works here: https://youtu.be/eZ19FHRETv8?si=_CXnXqNXbLl26WB8 The thing with these theft claims is that the sooner you get it filed with the county (not just EBT customer service), the faster you'll get your benefits replaced. Every day matters when it comes to food security.

this is why i always withdraw all my stamps on day 1 and use the cash to buy groceries instead of leaving it on the card!!!!! cant steal what aint there lol

UPDATE: I finally got through to my county office today. I had to provide my case number, the last 4 digits of my Social, and details about all the fraudulent transactions. They mailed me the EBT-2259 form (why can't they email these things??) and said once I return it, they'll process my claim. They also said I should check with local food banks while I wait for the replacement benefits. Feeling a little better but still stressed about the timeline. Already had to borrow $40 from my sister for basic groceries. At least I know there's a process to get the benefits back. Thanks everyone for your help and advice! I'll update again when I (hopefully) get my benefits replaced.

I had my CalFresh stolen twice last year! The second time, I specifically asked for expedited replacement due to hardship (I have two kids) and they processed it in 5 business days instead of 10. Might be worth asking about when you submit your form, especially if you're really struggling without the benefits.