EBT card fraud! Missing CalFresh benefits - someone from Virginia used my card?!
I'm freaking out right now. Just checked my CalFresh balance after my benefits loaded yesterday and instead of my usual $825, there's only $300 left!!! If I hadn't used the EBT balance app, I wouldn't have known someone was stealing my benefits. The transaction history shows purchases in VIRGINIA of all places (I'm in California)! I tried using my card for dinner tonight and it got declined - they left me with $3!!! Has anyone dealt with EBT fraud before? How do I report this? Will the county replace my stolen benefits? I have 3 kids to feed and rent due next week...
20 comments
Join the conversation
LilMama23
You need to call the EBT customer service number on the back of your card IMMEDIATELY to report fraud and get your card canceled. Then contact your county CalFresh office first thing tomorrow morning to report it. They should issue you a new card, but getting the stolen benefits back can be complicated. Document everything - screenshot the transaction history showing the out-of-state purchases before they issue you a new card. California has a process for benefit replacement due to fraud, but you need to act quickly.
0 coins
Aisha Patel
•thank you! i just called the EBT hotline and reported it as fraud & they canceled my card. they said i have to go physically to the county office tomorrow to request a new one and fill out paperwork for benefit replacement. im so stressed!! did this happen to you before? do they actually replace the stolen money??
0 coins
Dmitri Volkov
SAME THING happened to my cousin last month!!! OMG these scammers are getting worse. She got her benefits back but it took like 3 weeks and she had to fill out a police report too. Make sure u get a copy of ALL the transactions to show which ones weren't you. Take a screenshot of everything before they close your card.
0 coins
Gabrielle Dubois
•Yep police report is essential! The county made me file one before they would even look at my case. Print everything out too, don't just show them on your phone.
0 coins
Tyrone Johnson
This is unfortunately becoming more common with CalFresh benefits. Here's the official process you need to follow: 1. Call EBT Customer Service (1-877-328-9677) to report the card stolen and cancel it 2. File a police report - this is required for fraud claims 3. Visit your county office in person with ID to request a new card 4. Fill out the "EBT Benefit Theft Claim Form" - make sure they give you this specific form 5. Provide all evidence of unauthorized transactions Bylaw, they must investigate and make a determination within 10 days of reporting. If approved, replacement benefits will be issued. Make sure to specifically request EXPEDITED replacement due to hardship if you have children and limited resources.
0 coins
Aisha Patel
•This is so helpful thank you!! I just printed all the weird transactions and will take them with me. Do you know if they give you the new card same day? I literally have nothing to feed my kids now since all my benefits are gone :
0 coins
Ingrid Larsson
This happened to me last year and I never got my benefits back!!! The county office kept saying they were "investigating" but after 3 months they denied my claim saying I couldn't prove I didn't give my card to someone else. The whole system is rigged against us. They make it impossible to get help once your benefits are stolen. I had to borrow money from family just to feed my kids.
0 coins
Tyrone Johnson
•I'm sorry that happened to you. The key is providing strong evidence that you couldn't have made those purchases. Since the OP's transactions were in Virginia while they're in California, that should be sufficient geographical proof. Always ask to speak with a supervisor if your claim is initially denied - many frontline workers aren't fully trained on the benefit replacement process for fraud cases.
0 coins
Carlos Mendoza
i had my ebt card stolen last october but the thief was using it in the same city. stil got my benefits back tho took about 2 weeks. make sure u tell them u have kids so they give u emergency food assistance while ur waiting for the investigation!!!
0 coins
Aisha Patel
•Did they give you emergency food assistance right away? I'm so worried about what to feed my kids tomorrow. I have almost nothing in the house.
0 coins
Zainab Mahmoud
Hey there - I know you're panicking but there is help available while you wait for your case to be resolved. Call 211 right now and they can direct you to emergency food banks in your area. Also, if you're having trouble getting through to someone at the county office (which is likely), try using Claimyr.com - it's a service that gets you through to a real CalFresh worker without the endless hold times. They have a video showing how it works: https://youtu.be/eZ19FHRETv8?si=_CXnXqNXbLl26WB8 I was waiting for hours trying to report my benefit theft last year, used their service and got through in minutes. For something urgent like this, it's worth it to not waste days trying to reach someone.
0 coins
Aisha Patel
•Thanks for the tip! I'm definitely going to check out both 211 and that service. I've been on hold with the county for almost an hour already today and keep getting disconnected. I'll try the food bank today and then use Claimyr tomorrow if I can't get through normally.
0 coins
Dmitri Volkov
does anyone know how these scammer get our card info in the 1st place?? i'm so paranoid about using my ebt card now!
0 coins
LilMama23
•Most common methods are skimmers placed over card readers at stores, data breaches of retailers who accept EBT, or phishing scams (texts/calls claiming to be from CalFresh asking for your card info). Always inspect card readers before inserting your card, cover the keypad when entering your PIN, and NEVER share your card number or PIN with anyone who calls or texts you, even if they claim to be from the county or EBT services.
0 coins
Gabrielle Dubois
My sister works for the county CalFresh office and says you can request a "Expedited Replacement Benefit" in cases of fraud where you have minor children. If you've already completed a police report, bring it with you and specifically ask for the expedited benefits due to having children in the household. Many workers don't offer this automatically but they're supposed to provide it in hardship cases.
0 coins
Aisha Patel
•This is exactly what I need!!! Thank you so much - I'll specifically ask for the Expedited Replacement Benefit when I go in tomorrow. I would have never known to ask for this.
0 coins
Ingrid Larsson
Anyone else noticed how EBT fraud is getting worse and worse? I see posts like this almost every week now. The whole system needs better security! My friend works at a store and says they never even check IDs when people use EBT cards. There should be a photo on the card or something!
0 coins
Tyrone Johnson
•You're right that fraud is increasing. The state is actually implementing enhanced security measures for EBT cards in 2025, including optional PINs for specific stores and transaction limits. Until then, I recommend checking your balance regularly through the EBT app and requesting a new card every few months as a precaution.
0 coins
Aisha Patel
UPDATE: I went to the county office this morning (had to wait 3 hours!) and filed all the paperwork. They issued me a new EBT card on the spot and gave me $250 in emergency replacement benefits while they investigate the fraud claim! The worker said I should get an answer about the rest of my stolen benefits within 10 business days. Thanks everyone for your help - especially the tip about asking specifically for the expedited replacement. They didn't offer it until I mentioned it!
0 coins
Gabrielle Dubois
•So glad you got emergency benefits! Make sure to call and follow up after 10 days if you don't hear anything. Sometimes these cases get "lost" in their system and you have to be persistent.
0 coins