Suspicious phone call claiming to be from EBT - possible CalFresh scam?

NEVER give out your EBT card number or PIN to anyone who calls you! That was 100% a scam. CalFresh county workers will never ask for your full card number or PIN over the phone. They might ask for the last 4 digits of your SSN or other verification, but not your EBT card details. If they need to contact you about your case, they'll usually send a notice in the mail first or leave a voicemail asking you to call the county office using the official number on your notices.

omg i got the exact same call last week!! they said there was a problem with my acct and needed to verify my pin. i gave them the first 2 digits then realized wait this doesnt seem right and hung up. checked my balance right after and everything was still there thank god

This is definitely a scam and it's becoming more common. I work with benefit recipients and we've seen a huge increase in these calls targeting CalFresh/EBT users. Here's what you need to know: 1. Official CalFresh communications about your case come primarily through mail or notices in your BenefitsCal account 2. If a county worker does call you, they'll identify themselves by name, county office, and your case number (not your EBT card number) 3. They will NEVER ask for your PIN - that's only for you to use at stores or ATMs 4. If you're concerned, call your county office directly using the number on your approval notices or from the official website I recommend reporting this scam to your county office so they can warn others.

I'm dealing with something similar!!! Got a call Monday from "EBT verification department" saying my account was flagged for unusual activity. When I asked why they didn't just freeze my card if they suspected fraud, they got all defensive. Huge red flag! These scammers are targeting us because they know we NEED our benefits and might panic and give info to prevent losing them. So manipulative.

If you ever need to reach your actual CalFresh worker about a legitimate concern, you might want to try using Claimyr (claimyr.com). It's a service that helps you get through to a real person at the county office without waiting on hold for hours. I used it last month when I had an issue with my recertification and got through in minutes instead of the usual 2+ hour wait. They have a video showing how it works: https://youtu.be/eZ19FHRETv8?si=_CXnXqNXbLl26WB8 Might be worth it if you want to confirm there's no actual issue with your case after getting that scam call. Peace of mind is worth it sometimes.

We get these calls all the time in our building. I'm in senior housing and at least 4 residents got scammed last year. Now the property manager put up flyers by the mailboxes warning everyone. The county should do more to protect us!!!!

I should add that if you're ever concerned about the legitimacy of a call about your CalFresh benefits: 1. Tell them you'll call back through the official county number 2. Hang up and look up your county's CalFresh office number (don't use any number the caller gave you) 3. Call that official number and ask if they were trying to reach you Legitimate workers will completely understand this caution and have notes in your case file if they were actually trying to contact you.

My daughter almost fell for this last year. They even spoofed the caller ID to look like it was coming from "CA Benefits" or something official-looking. I've taught her that NO legit government agency will EVER ask for her PIN or password over the phone. Period. It's like a bank - they already have your info in their system, they don't need you to tell them your secret codes!

And btw the scammers are getting more sophisticated. They know how the system works and use the right terminology. They'll mention things like SAR7, recertification periods, and income reporting requirements to sound legitimate. Some even have background noise that sounds like a call center! Be careful out there.

To answer your original question: yes, legitimate county workers may occasionally call you about your CalFresh case, but: 1. They will identify themselves by name and county department 2. They will reference your case number, not your EBT card number 3. They will never ask for your PIN 4. If you express doubt, they'll suggest you call back through the main line If you're worried there might be a real issue, you can always log into your BenefitsCal account to check for any notices or alerts about your case. That's the safest way to verify if there's a legitimate concern that needs addressing.