EBT skimming alert! 7-Eleven stores might be compromising CalFresh benefits - change PIN monthly

omg yes!!!!! my calfresh disappeared at exactly 6:05am two weeks ago!!! i was gonna use it for groceries that day and POOF just gone. i used my card at 7/11 on main street like 3 days before. the county keeps telling me to fill out forms but nothing happens

This is unfortunately becoming extremely common with EBT cards because they lack the security features of regular credit/debit cards. Here's what you need to know: 1. California has a specific EBT theft form (CF 303) that must be filed within 90 days of the theft 2. You MUST file a police report - bring a copy when you submit the CF 303 3. Never use your EBT card at stand-alone ATMs or gas station card readers 4. Always check for card skimmers (wiggle the card reader before inserting) 5. Change your PIN through the EBT customer service line (877-328-9677) regularly The county should be able to replace your CalFresh benefits, but the process takes time. Cash benefits (CalWorks) are harder to get replaced.

i heard rumors that the state is gonna switch to those chip cards for ebt eventually but who knows when. my cousin works for the county and she says they're SWAMPED with theft reports. like 30% of all benefits in some areas are getting stolen! changing your pin helps but the real pros have machines that copy the whole magnetic stripe so they dont even need your pin sometimes

I've dealt with this exact situation recently. The county kept giving me the runaround with paperwork, but I finally reached someone who actually helped resolve my case. I used Claimyr (claimyr.com) to get through to a live CalFresh worker instead of dealing with the automated system. They have this service that gets you through the phone queue - watched their demo video (https://youtu.be/eZ19FHRETv8?si=_CXnXqNXbLl26WB8) and decided to try it. Once I actually spoke to a person, they walked me through exactly what documentation was needed for the CF 303 form and expedited my replacement benefits. I got them in 7 days instead of waiting a month. Definitely file the theft report ASAP - there's a time limit for reporting.

It's disgusting that they make it so difficult to get YOUR OWN BENEFITS back when they get stolen!!! I had $962 taken last month and spent WEEKS trying to get it restored. They make you feel like a criminal when YOU'RE the victim! And don't expect to eat while you wait - no emergency replacements. The system is designed to make us suffer.

Actually changing your PIN isn't always enough protection. My sister works for calfresh and said the thieves install tiny cameras above the keypad to see your PIN while the skimmer copies your card. Better to physically cover the keypad with your other hand when entering your PIN. Also avoid any store where the clerk takes your card out of sight - some corrupt employees have portable skimmers. For everyone dealing with theft, make sure you're using the BenefitsCal portal to report it in addition to calling. The system creates a timestamp of your report which helps with processing.

To everyone in this thread: There's a new state law (AB 1270) that went into effect in 2025 that gives better protection for stolen benefits. It requires counties to provide expedited replacement of CalFresh benefits within 10 days if you meet certain requirements. When you file your CF 303 form, specifically mention that you're requesting expedited replacement under AB 1270. Also, I recommend removing all but a small amount of your benefits from your EBT card immediately after they're deposited. You can make small transfers to another account or withdraw cash in multiple smaller transactions rather than keeping the full amount on the card.

not to sound stupid but how do u transfer benefits off the ebt card? i thought u can only use it 4 food purchases directly? or r u talking about the cash benefits part?

This is such an important thread - thank you all for sharing your experiences and advice! I'm new to CalFresh and honestly had no idea about these risks. I've been using my EBT card everywhere without thinking twice about security. After reading this, I'm definitely going to start being more careful about where I shop and will change my PIN right away. Does anyone know if certain grocery store chains are safer than others? I usually shop at Walmart, Target, and sometimes smaller corner stores, but now I'm wondering if I should stick to the bigger retailers that might have better security systems. Also, is there a way to check your balance frequently without going to a store? I want to catch any theft quickly if it happens.

This is such valuable information everyone - thank you for sharing your experiences. I'm a CalFresh recipient and had no idea about the skimming risks until I found this thread. I've been pretty careless about where I use my card, but after reading about everyone's losses, I'm going to be much more careful. I wanted to add that I recently learned you can also check your EBT balance by texting "BAL" to 96977 - it's another quick way to monitor your account without having to call or go online. I've started checking mine every morning just to make sure nothing suspicious happened overnight. One question - has anyone tried using contactless payment where available? Some stores now accept EBT through tap-to-pay which seems like it would be safer than swiping the magnetic stripe. Not sure if that's rolled out widely yet, but might be worth looking into as an extra security measure. Stay safe everyone and thanks again for all the practical advice!

This thread is incredibly eye-opening! I just started receiving CalFresh benefits last month and had no clue about EBT skimming. I've been using my card at gas stations and small convenience stores without a second thought. After reading everyone's experiences, I'm honestly scared to use my card anywhere now. I have a few questions for the group: Is there a list somewhere of stores that have reported skimming incidents? And when you change your PIN monthly, do you do it online or by calling that customer service number? I tried calling once for a different issue and was on hold forever. Also, @Aileen Rodriguez mentioned the CF 303 form - is that something I can download online or do I have to get it from my caseworker? I want to have everything ready just in case this happens to me. The idea of losing my benefits and then having to wait weeks to get them back while my family goes hungry is terrifying. Thank you all for sharing your stories and advice - this community is a lifesaver for people like us who are just trying to navigate the system and feed our families safely.

This is such an important discussion - thank you everyone for sharing your experiences and tips! I'm relatively new to CalFresh and honestly had no idea EBT skimming was such a widespread problem. Reading about everyone's stolen benefits is heartbreaking but also really educational. I wanted to share something I learned from my caseworker last week: she mentioned that some counties are starting to send text alerts when your benefits are accessed, similar to how banks notify you of transactions. Apparently it's not available everywhere yet, but might be worth asking about when you contact your county office. Also, for anyone dealing with the phone system frustrations - I've found that if you call the EBT customer service line right at 6:00 AM when they open, you can usually get through much faster. The hold times get crazy during regular business hours. Stay strong everyone, and thanks for looking out for each other. It's terrible that we have to worry about this on top of everything else, but at least we can help protect each other with information like this.

This whole thread has been incredibly helpful - I had no idea EBT skimming was such a huge problem! I just got approved for CalFresh a few weeks ago and have been using my card pretty carelessly. Reading about everyone losing hundreds of dollars in benefits is terrifying, especially knowing how long it takes to get replacements. I'm definitely going to start checking my balance daily using that text method (96977) and calling the customer service line early morning to change my PIN. The tip about wiggling card readers before inserting is something I'll remember every time now. One thing I'm curious about - has anyone noticed if the skimming happens more at certain times of day? Like are the thieves targeting right after benefits load, or is it random? I want to be extra careful during high-risk periods. Also, does anyone know if using the EBT card for online grocery pickup/delivery is safer? Some stores like Walmart and Target offer that service now, and it seems like it might avoid the physical card reader risks altogether. Thanks everyone for sharing your experiences and looking out for each other. It's awful that we have to deal with this on top of everything else, but at least we can protect ourselves with knowledge!

This thread is so eye-opening and scary at the same time! I've been on CalFresh for about 6 months and have been pretty careless with my card - using it at random corner stores, gas stations, you name it. After reading everyone's stories about losing hundreds of dollars, I'm honestly shocked this isn't talked about more when you first get approved. I had no idea about changing your PIN monthly or that 7-Eleven stores might be compromised. I've definitely used my card there multiple times recently. Now I'm paranoid that my benefits might get stolen too. Thank you @Aileen Rodriguez for the detailed info about the CF 303 form and AB 1270 - I'm saving this info just in case. And @NebulaKnight thanks for the text balance tip! I just tried texting "BAL" to 96977 and it worked perfectly. I'm definitely going to check this every day now. This whole situation just shows how vulnerable we are in this system. It's already hard enough to make ends meet, and now we have to worry about criminals stealing the little help we do get. But at least we have each other to share information and protect one another. This community is amazing!