How do thieves steal money from EBT cards? Is my CalFresh at risk?

Unfortunately, EBT theft has become a serious problem in California. There are two main ways thieves steal benefits: 1. Skimming: Criminals install hidden card readers (skimmers) on legitimate EBT card readers (like store payment terminals). These capture your card data when you swipe. They often pair this with tiny cameras to record your PIN. 2. Card cloning: Once they have your card data from skimming, they create duplicate cards and drain your benefits. They can steal both CalFresh and CalWORKs benefits this way. CalFresh benefits can't be withdrawn as cash, but CalWORKs cash benefits are particularly vulnerable because thieves can withdraw them from ATMs. To protect yourself: - Check card readers for anything suspicious before inserting your card - Cover the keypad when entering your PIN - Change your PIN regularly through the EBT website or phone system - Check your balance frequently (daily if possible) - Report suspicious activity immediately

its hapend to me twice already this year!!! lost over $800 in janurary and then again in march about $500. both times i had my card IN MY WALLET. county made me fill out bunch of paperwork first time but i did get the money back after like 6 WEEKS. second time still waiting. now i just spend all my calfresh as soon as its on my card, dont care if i need the food yet or not. better than some theif getting it!! aslo change ur pin every month thats wat the worker told me

There's some important information everyone should know about EBT theft and the recent changes in California's policies: 1. As of October 2023, California implemented new laws specifically to address EBT theft. The state now has to replace stolen CalFresh and CalWORKs benefits. 2. For stolen benefits to be replaced: - You must report the theft within 90 days of the incident - Complete the required forms (usually the EBT 2259 form) - The county must verify the claim within 10 days - Benefits should be restored within 10 days after verification 3. The best protection is prevention: - Use the EBT app to freeze and unfreeze your card when not in use - Check for skimming devices before using an EBT terminal - Never share your PIN or card information - Report lost or stolen cards immediately to the EBT Customer Service line Different counties process these claims at different speeds, so don't wait to report if you notice missing benefits.

When my benefits got stolen last year, I spent HOURS trying to get through to my county worker. Would call, get put on hold for 45+ minutes, then disconnected. Over and over. Finally someone told me about Claimyr.com - totally changed everything. They got me connected to a real person at my county office in like 10 minutes. The worker helped me file my claim right over the phone and I got my stolen benefits back faster than my neighbor who was trying for weeks on her own. They have a video showing how it works: https://youtu.be/eZ19FHRETv8?si=_CXnXqNXbLl26WB8 With how common these EBT thefts are now, it's worth knowing about if you ever need to reach someone quickly about stolen benefits.

I READ SOMEWHERE THAT YOU SHOULD NEVER USE YOUR EBT CARD AT GAS STATIONS!!! They have the most skimmers. Also dont use at walmart the first 3 days of the month bc thats when thieves target the most. My sister in Ohio had her whole months benefits stolen twice, and they wouldnt replace it there!!! At least CA has the replacement policy now. BUT IT TAKES FOREVER.

To check your balance without using store terminals, you have several safer options: 1. The official EBT mobile app (ConnectEBT) - this is the most secure method 2. The California EBT website: www.ebt.ca.gov 3. Call the toll-free number on the back of your card: 1-877-328-9677 All of these methods are much safer than checking at store terminals, which could potentially have skimming devices attached. Regarding your question about spending benefits immediately: while this does prevent theft, it's not always practical for perishable foods. A better approach is freezing your card through the app when not in use, changing your PIN monthly, and monitoring your balance regularly.

just so everyone knows, they can take ur benefits without having your physical card. happened to me. i think it was from using my card at a sketchy liquor store. now i ONLY use my EBT at big grocery chains like ralphs or food 4 less. and i change my pin every 2 weeks. never had a problem since. also if ur benefits get stolen they WILL replace them but you have to be super annoying and keep calling and following up. the squeaky wheel gets the grease lol

This is really helpful information everyone! I had no idea about the card freezing feature either. One thing I wanted to add - if you do need to report stolen benefits, keep detailed records of everything. Write down the date/time you called, who you spoke with, case numbers, etc. I learned this the hard way when my cousin had her benefits stolen and the county "lost" her first report. She had to start the whole process over again because she couldn't prove she had already filed. Also, take screenshots of your balance regularly through the app - this can serve as proof of when the theft occurred. The more documentation you have, the smoother the replacement process will be.