EBT card skimmed at ATM - cash benefits stolen in different city! Anyone else experience this in 2025?

omg this literally happened to me last month!!! same thing - never been to the place where "i" supposedly took out the $$ (mine was at some random liquor store in oakland). called the fraud line like 6 times before someone picked up. they made me fill out this form saying i wasnt the one who used the card. took almost 3 weeks but i did get my money back eventually

I'm sorry this happened to you. EBT card skimming is unfortunately becoming very common in California. Here's what you need to do: 1. Call the EBT Customer Service line (877-328-9677) to report the unauthorized transactions and request a new card immediately 2. File a police report - many counties now require this for fraud claims 3. Complete the "EBT Cash Benefit Theft Claim Form" (it should be form CF 303 in 2025) 4. Submit the form and police report to your county office as soon as possible California has implemented the EBT Cash Benefit Theft Replacement program, but they only have 10 days from your report to investigate. The county will review and may reimburse the stolen amounts. However, they'll only replace each household's benefits once in a 6-month period, so be aware of that limitation.

This is happening a LOT lately. EBT skimming is basically an epidemic right now. California passed new regulations in 2024 that should make it easier to get your money back, but the process is still a nightmare. One thing I don't see mentioned yet - TAKE SCREENSHOTS of your transaction history showing the fraudulent withdrawals before they disappear from your account history (they only show recent transactions). Also, the county offices are completely overwhelmed with these cases right now, so getting through on the phone is nearly impossible. I would recommend using Claimyr (claimyr.com) - it's a service that calls the EBT/CalFresh office for you and gets you connected to a real person without the wait. Saved me hours when my mom's card got skimmed. You can see how it works here: https://youtu.be/eZ19FHRETv8?si=_CXnXqNXbLl26WB8

Thieves are targeting EBT cards because the security is GARBAGE compared to regular debit cards!!!! My neighbors card got hit TWICE in three months and the county didn't care AT ALL. They make it so hard to get the money back that people just give up. Its not fair!!!!!

I work for a community organization helping people with CalFresh issues. There's been a huge increase in these EBT skimming cases. Here's what works: - Don't just call the EBT customer service line - you need to contact your specific county CalFresh office directly - Use the BenefitsCal portal to report the theft online AND follow up with a call - Request an "immediate need" replacement due to hardship if you have rent due - Ask specifically about the "EBT Cash Theft Replacement Program" The law requires them to process these claims within 10 days, but counties are backlogged. Be persistent! Also, once you get a new card, transfer your benefits immediately when they arrive - don't let them sit on the card.

Same thing happened to my sister last week her money was stolen from some atm in LA when she lives in Fresno... she went to the county office in person with her ID and they helped her file the paperwork right there. She said going in person was way faster than trying to do it on the phone. Good luck hope you get your money back quick

To answer your follow-up question: In BenefitsCal, you need to go to "Contact My County" and select "Report Fraud/Stolen Benefits" from the dropdown. It's not very intuitive. For the immediate need proof, having any documentation showing your rent due date (lease agreement, letter from landlord, or even recent rent receipts) will help, but they should be able to expedite based on your statement of hardship. One additional tip: California implemented new regulations in 2024 allowing for expedited 3-day processing in cases of significant hardship. Specifically ask if you qualify for the "3-day expedited replacement under Senate Bill 129" - county workers don't always mention this option unless you specifically ask.

Did you keep your PIN in your wallet with your card? My worker told me most of these "skimming" cases are actually because people keep their PIN written down somewhere. Not saying that's what you did but it's something to think about. Also check if anyone else knows your PIN - roommates, family members, etc. Sometimes it's not strangers.

btw after my card got skimmed i now ONLY use my ebt at the grocery store never at atms!!! and i transfer the $ as soon as it hits my account to my regular bank. the ebt cards r wayyyy less secure

THE WHOLE SYSTEM IS BROKEN!!! My cousin had $1400 stolen and they DENIED her claim said she must have given someone her card!!! No investigation NOTHING. Meanwhile if a bank has fraud they give u the money back right away. Its cause were poor they dont care about us!!!

Quick update on my earlier comment - if you're having trouble with the EBT customer service line, definitely try using Claimyr to get through to your county office directly. The county workers have more authority to expedite fraud claims than the general EBT customer service reps. Also, I forgot to mention this before, but make sure you're talking about "cash benefits theft" specifically, not food benefits. The replacement processes are different, and the cash benefit replacement program has specific funding and requirements. Some workers get confused between the two programs.

Following up on your progress - were you able to submit the theft claim through BenefitsCal or get through to someone on the phone? If you're still having trouble, I'd recommend documenting everything (screenshots, dates/times of calls, names of anyone you speak with). Also, there's a misconception I want to clear up: California law now requires counties to replace cash benefits stolen through electronic theft (like skimming or hacking) once every six months up to the full amount. This is different from food benefits, which have different replacement rules. Don't let anyone at the county tell you that cash benefits can't be replaced - that policy changed with AB 1880 and was further expanded in 2024.

That's such great news! I'm so glad you were able to get through and get at least partial emergency replacement. 60% is better than nothing while you wait for the full investigation. For anyone else reading this thread dealing with similar issues, this shows that persistence really does pay off. The key takeaways seem to be: - Keep calling until you get through to your actual county office (not just the general EBT line) - Ask specifically about emergency/expedited replacement due to hardship - Document everything and take screenshots of fraudulent transactions - Don't give up even if the first person you talk to isn't helpful Hope you get the remaining 40% back quickly! This whole situation is so stressful but you handled it really well.