EBT card fraud: Someone spent all my CalFresh benefits in another city - will the county replace stolen funds?

I'm so sorry this happened to you! Yes, CalFresh will replace stolen benefits, but you need to report it immediately. Make sure you: 1. Call the EBT customer service line (1-877-328-9677) right now to report the fraud and cancel your card 2. File a police report - some counties require this for benefit replacement 3. When you go to the county office tomorrow, bring your EBT card and ID 4. Ask specifically for an "EBT-2259 Replacement Form" for stolen benefits They typically replace benefits within 10 days once it's verified as fraud. The good news is that California now has better fraud protection than they used to.

The SAME THING happened to me last month!!!! Someone used my entire balance at a grocery store in San Diego (I live in Sacramento). I still had my card too!! The county worker told me its card skimming - criminals put devices on store card readers that steal your card info, then make duplicate cards. ITS CRAZY!!

This is definitely EBT skimming fraud. The county WILL replace your benefits, but it can take 7-10 business days to investigate and restore funds. Here's what you should do: 1. Already good that you reported and canceled your card 2. At the county office, complete form CF 303 - Request for Benefit Replacement 3. Be prepared to sign an affidavit stating you didn't authorize these purchases 4. Ask for emergency food assistance while waiting for replacement benefits Keep the case number from your EBT fraud report handy. If they give you any trouble about replacing the full amount, ask to speak with a supervisor and reference MPP Section 16-705 which covers benefit restoration for unauthorized use. Your benefits are protected by law.

This happened to me back in november and i never got my money back!!! 😡 i went to the office 3 times and they kept saying "its being processed" but nothing ever happened. they make u fill out like 5 different forms and then nothing. the system is designed to make u give up.

EBT card skimming is a huge problem across California right now. When you're at the county office tomorrow, if they tell you it will take more than a few days to process, ask specifically for expedited emergency food benefits - they can issue temporary emergency funds while your case is being investigated. Also, be prepared for potential difficulty reaching someone by phone if you need to follow up after your in-person visit. I had to call dozens of times when this happened to me. If you're having trouble getting through, check out Claimyr.com - they help you skip the CalFresh phone queues and get through to a live worker. Saved me hours of frustration. They have a video showing how it works at https://youtu.be/eZ19FHRETv8?si=_CXnXqNXbLl26WB8 Good luck tomorrow! Stand your ground and don't leave without either replacement benefits or emergency assistance.

When this happened to me the county was actually super helpful! Once I filled out all the paperwork, they replaced my benefits within 48 hours because I explained it was an emergency situation with kids. Make sure you tell them you have NO other resources for food right now. Also, protect your new card when it comes: 1. Never use it at gas station card readers (major skimming targets) 2. Check for loose card readers before swiping anywhere 3. Change your PIN immediately when you get the new card 4. Use the EBT app to freeze your card when not using it

does anyone know if they can see WHO spent the money?? like can they check cameras at the store to catch the person? its so frustrating these thieves target people who already struggling

Urgh this exact thing happened to my sister last month and they made her wait 15 days for replacement!!! Its ridiculous. Make sure you ask for emergency food vouchers while waiting. Good luck!

I'm so sorry this happened to you! EBT fraud is unfortunately becoming really common. Here's what helped me when I went through this exact situation: Bring multiple forms of documentation tomorrow: - Your EBT card (even though it's compromised) - Photo ID - Any screenshots of your transaction history showing the fraudulent purchases - Write down the exact stores/locations where the fraud occurred When you're there, be very clear that this is an emergency - you have children and no other food resources. Ask for: 1. Expedited benefit replacement (they can sometimes do this same-day for families with kids) 2. Emergency food assistance while you wait 3. A case number for your fraud report Don't let them brush you off or tell you to "just wait." You have legal rights to replacement benefits for unauthorized use. If the first worker you speak to isn't helpful, politely ask for a supervisor. Also, when you get your new card, consider only using it at major grocery stores rather than smaller markets - the fraud protection tends to be better at larger chains. You WILL get your benefits back. Stay strong and advocate for yourself and your kids!

I went through this exact same situation 6 months ago and it was terrifying! But I want to reassure you - California WILL replace your stolen benefits. Here's what worked for me: When you go tomorrow, be persistent but polite. Sometimes the first worker you speak with might not know all the options available. If they seem hesitant about emergency assistance, mention that you have minor children at home with no food - this often triggers additional help options. Also, keep detailed records of EVERYTHING - take photos of any paperwork they give you, write down names of workers you speak with, and get case numbers for every form you submit. This saved me when I had to follow up later. One thing that really helped speed up my case was bringing a printed statement from the EBT website showing all the fraudulent transactions with timestamps and locations. It made it crystal clear that someone else was using my benefits. Most importantly - don't give up if the process feels overwhelming. These benefits are legally yours and they have an obligation to replace stolen funds. You're going to get through this!