Suspicious DPSS automated call about EBT PIN change - scam alert?

OMG I got the exact same call last week!!!! didnt answer but the vm was weird. when i called back same thing happened - just said dpss and hung up. i ignored it and nothing bad happened to my benefits.

This is definitely a scam! The real DPSS will never call you asking to change your PIN that way. They don't manage EBT PINs at all - that's handled through the EBT vendor (currently FIS). If there was a legitimate PIN issue, you'd get official mail with the actual EBT customer service number (1-877-328-9677) and they wouldn't use an automated call telling you to "download an app" - there is an official CalFresh app (CalFresh Mobile) but they wouldn't direct you to it for PIN changes. These scammers are getting more sophisticated. They're spoofing DPSS phone numbers and trying to get people to give up their EBT card info so they can drain benefits.

ya this sounds like the ebt scams they talked about on the news. they try 2 get ur info then steal ur benafits. I got a text once saying my calfresh was expiring and needed 2 "verify" my card number. total bs. i almost fell for it cuz i was worried about feeding my kids

100% scam. Here's what you need to know about legitimate EBT/CalFresh communications: 1. DPSS will never call about PIN changes - that's handled by the EBT processor 2. Official communications about your case come through mail, your BenefitsCal account, or your caseworker calling from an official county number 3. Legitimate automated calls from DPSS are about appointment reminders or missing verification documents, not PIN changes 4. Real DPSS workers identify themselves with name, worker number, and office 5. The county will never ask for your full card number or PIN over the phone Report this to DPSS fraud department at 800-349-9970 so they can track these scams.

I had something similar happen and spent THREE DAYS trying to reach someone at DPSS to ask about it. I kept getting disconnected or stuck on hold forever. I finally got through to a worker who confirmed it was a scam targeting EBT recipients. They said never give your PIN to anyone and only use the number on the back of your card for PIN issues. I've found that using Claimyr (claimyr.com) is the only way I can reliably get through to DPSS these days without waiting hours. They have a service that holds your place in line and calls you back when a worker is available. Saved me so much stress! They have a video showing how it works: https://youtu.be/eZ19FHRETv8?si=_CXnXqNXbLl26WB8

Yes! It's been a lifesaver for me. You still have to talk to the same workers, but it handles all the waiting and calling back if you get disconnected. I used to waste entire days trying to reach someone at DPSS.

My neighbor got his ENTIRE MONTHS benefits stolen this way!!! The scammers got his info and transferred all his CalFresh to their own card or something. The county basically told him too bad so sad, nothing they could do. Be super careful people!

He was completely out of luck. Had to use food banks for the rest of the month. The county said something about "federal regulations" not allowing them to replace benefits lost to fraud. It's really messed up.

Quick update on this topic: The USDA (which runs SNAP/CalFresh) recently changed their policy and counties CAN now replace some stolen benefits, but you have to report it within 30 days. The new policy started in 2023. Your county worker might not know about it yet since some counties are slow to implement changes. If you experience benefit theft, immediately: 1. Call EBT customer service to report the card stolen 2. File a police report (get a case number) 3. Contact your county office to request replacement benefits under the new federal policy 4. Get a new EBT card with a new PIN They can replace up to 2 months of stolen benefits now.

Can I add something important? ALWAYS check your EBT balance regularly through the official app or by calling the number on your card. Scammers count on people not noticing their benefits are gone until they're at the checkout line trying to buy groceries. If you check frequently, you can catch unauthorized transactions sooner.

This is such important information for everyone to know! I've been getting CalFresh for about 6 months now and honestly had no idea these scams were so common. The fact that they're spoofing official numbers makes it even scarier - how are we supposed to tell what's real anymore? I'm definitely going to start checking my balance more often like Alexander suggested. I usually only check when I'm about to shop, but that's probably too late if something happens. Does anyone know if there's a way to set up alerts when your balance changes? I feel like that would help catch unauthorized transactions faster. Also, I'm really glad to hear about the new policy for replacing stolen benefits. It's awful that people were just left with nothing before 2023. Thanks everyone for sharing your experiences - this thread is going to help a lot of people avoid these scams!

I actually just went through the process of setting up those balance alerts after reading this thread! For anyone who wants to do it, here's what worked for me: 1. Download the "ebtEDGE" app (make sure it's the official one - there are fake EBT apps out there too!) 2. Create an account using your EBT card number 3. Go to "Notifications" in the settings 4. Turn on transaction alerts and low balance warnings The app also shows your transaction history which is super helpful for spotting anything suspicious. I wish I had known about this sooner - would have saved me so much anxiety about my benefits! One more tip: if you ever get a suspicious call or text about your EBT card, screenshot it if possible before deleting. The fraud department at DPSS said having that evidence helps them track these scam operations better.

I'm so glad I found this thread! I got a similar call about two weeks ago and almost fell for it. The caller ID actually showed up as "Los Angeles County DPSS" which made it seem more legitimate. They said there was "suspicious activity" on my EBT card and I needed to verify my PIN immediately or my benefits would be frozen. I was panicking because I have kids to feed, but something in my gut told me to hang up and call the real DPSS office first. When I called the actual county office (took forever to get through), they confirmed it was a scam. The worker told me that DPSS would NEVER call about EBT card issues - that's handled by a completely different company. She said these scammers are specifically targeting people who receive benefits because they know we're often in vulnerable situations and more likely to panic when threatened with losing our food assistance. I reported it to the fraud hotline that Drake mentioned (800-349-9970) and they said they're getting dozens of calls about this same scam every day. It's really scary how convincing they're getting with the spoofed phone numbers and official-sounding language. Stay vigilant everyone!

This is such valuable information everyone is sharing! I'm relatively new to receiving CalFresh benefits and honestly had no idea these scams were so widespread. Reading through all these experiences is both terrifying and incredibly helpful. What really strikes me is how sophisticated these scammers have become - spoofing official numbers, using the right terminology, and knowing exactly how to manipulate people by threatening to freeze benefits. It's disgusting that they're targeting people who are already in vulnerable financial situations. I'm definitely going to download the ebtEDGE app right after this and set up those transaction alerts that several people mentioned. I've been one of those people who only checks their balance when shopping, which I now realize is way too risky. One question for those who have dealt with this - should we also be worried about text message scams? I've gotten some weird texts lately claiming to be from various government agencies, but nothing specifically about EBT yet. Are the scammers using texts too or mostly just phone calls? Thanks to everyone who shared their experiences and tips. This community is amazing for looking out for each other like this!

This thread is incredibly eye-opening! I've been receiving CalFresh for about a year now and thankfully haven't gotten any of these scam calls yet, but reading everyone's experiences has me really concerned about how sophisticated these criminals are getting. The fact that they're spoofing official DPSS numbers and using such convincing language is terrifying. I can totally see how people would fall for this, especially when they threaten to freeze your benefits - that would send anyone into panic mode when you're relying on that assistance to feed your family. I'm immediately going to: 1. Download the ebtEDGE app and set up all those transaction alerts 2. Save the real fraud hotline number (800-349-9970) in my phone 3. Write down the legitimate EBT customer service number from the back of my card 4. Share this information with my sister who also receives benefits It's so messed up that scammers are specifically targeting vulnerable people who depend on government assistance. Thank you to everyone who shared their experiences and practical tips - this is exactly the kind of information that helps protect our community. I'll definitely be more vigilant now and will report any suspicious calls or texts immediately.