EBT card hacked at Walmart - PIN changed without my knowledge - CalFresh benefits stolen

Unfortunately this is becoming more common with EBT cards. Skimmers are being placed on card readers at stores, and the thieves can create duplicate cards with the stolen information. When they change your PIN, they're likely using card skimmer technology combined with shoulder surfing to get your original PIN. Here's what you need to do immediately: 1. File a police report (you'll need this for the fraud claim) 2. Make sure you've already called EBT customer service to report it stolen (sounds like you did) 3. Contact your county worker directly to expedite the claim investigation 4. Ask about emergency replacement benefits while your claim is being processed The investigation might take time, but you should be able to get emergency benefits faster if you explain you have children to feed.

THIS HAPPENED TO ME LAST MONTH!!!! Exact same thing - someone drained $789 at a Walmart 45 min away from me. I also had my card the whole time!! The county blamed ME at first saying I must have shared my PIN or lost my card. I had to fight for THREE WEEKS to get my benefits back. The system is BROKEN and they don't care that people are starving while they do their "investigation." Try calling your local food banks while you wait. St. Vincent de Paul helped me with emergency groceries. Also call your state representative's office - that's what finally got my case moving after weeks of runaround.

my sister had this happen 2 her last yr. she thinks it was from using her card at a gas station atm. now she only uses it at the big grocery stores. walmart has had a lot of skimmer problems lately u should google it

I work with CalFresh recipients and see this issue more frequently lately. Here's some accurate information: - EBT fraud claims are taking 10-15 business days on average right now due to increased cases - You ARE entitled to expedited replacement benefits if you have dependent children - You need to specifically request "expedited benefit replacement due to household hardship" from your county worker - The police report is helpful but not required to begin the expedited process One challenge is actually reaching a county worker. The phone lines are completely overwhelmed right now. I've had clients have success using Claimyr (claimyr.com) to get through the phone systems - they have a service that waits on hold for you and calls when a live person answers. They have a demo video showing how it works here: https://youtu.be/eZ19FHRETv8?si=_CXnXqNXbLl26WB8 Once you connect with your worker, emphasize that you have minor children and request the expedited replacement. They should be able to issue emergency benefits within 3 business days.

sorry this happened to u! my cousin works at walmart and says they have big problems with card skimmers. thieves put these little devices over the regular card readers and they look normal but they steal ur card info. then they make fake cards with ur info. always check card readers and pull on them before u swipe!!

I'm so sorry you're going through this! While you're waiting for the investigation, make sure to contact local food banks immediately. Call 211 for referrals to emergency food assistance in your area. Many food banks have special programs for families with children and can help bridge the gap while you're waiting for your benefits to be restored. For preventing future fraud, I've started changing my PIN regularly (once a month) and always cover the keypad completely when entering it. Also, I've found that logging into the EBT mobile app regularly helps catch unauthorized transactions early.

Update on my earlier comment - I just looked into this more and there's been a recent wave of EBT fraud specifically targeting Walmart transactions. The California DSS issued an alert about this last month. For PIN changes, thieves are using a technique where they call EBT customer service pretending to be you (with your card info already stolen from skimmers), answer the security questions (often using info bought on the dark web), and change the PIN remotely. Then they use a cloned card with the new PIN. When you get your benefits back, I strongly recommend: 1. Set up EBT text/email alerts for all transactions 2. Change your PIN at least monthly 3. Update your security questions if possible 4. Check your balance daily through the app The investigation timeline is unfortunately accurate, but emphasizing the children in your household should help expedite emergency replacement.

I have a question kind of related to this...does anyone know if benefit theft happens with the direct deposit option? I've been getting my CalFresh on my EBT card but recently heard you can get it direct deposited to your bank account instead. Seems like that might be safer with all these skimming issues??

UPDATE: After using that Claimyr service someone recommended, I finally got through to a real person at my county office! They're expediting my claim and said I should have emergency replacement benefits loaded onto a new card within 3 business days. The worker also told me they've had a huge spike in these fraud cases in the last 2 months - apparently there's an organized ring targeting EBT cards throughout California. I've filed a police report too, and they told me to keep checking my transaction history because sometimes the thieves will make several smaller withdrawals over time rather than taking all the benefits at once. Thanks everyone for your help and advice during this nightmare situation. If anyone else goes through this, definitely emphasize that you have children when requesting expedited replacement benefits.

I'm so sorry this happened to you! This is becoming a huge problem and it's awful that families are being left without food while waiting for investigations. One thing I wanted to add - if you're having trouble reaching your county worker even with the phone service, you can also try going to the local office in person. Sometimes they have walk-in hours for emergencies like this. Also, some counties have online portals where you can submit urgent requests that might get faster attention than the phone lines. Another tip for everyone - I started taking photos of card readers before I use them. If something looks off or feels loose when you insert your card, don't use it. Better safe than sorry with all these skimmers going around. Really glad to hear you're getting emergency benefits soon! Keep us updated on how the investigation goes.