WARNING: CalFresh EBT PIN theft happening at month-end - Anyone else getting benefits stolen?
I'm freaking out right now. For the THIRD month in a row, about $230 disappeared from my CalFresh EBT card before I could use it! I noticed the pattern - it always happens around the 11th-12th of the month, usually late at night when benefits post. Called the fraud hotline but they keep saying it'll take 10 business days to investigate. That's food my kids aren't eating RIGHT NOW! The worker suggested changing my PIN regularly, but shouldn't their system be more secure than this?? Has anyone else experienced this? Do you change your PIN monthly? And most importantly - has anyone actually gotten their stolen benefits REPLACED? County office keeps transferring me around in circles.
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Freya Andersen
omg this is happening EVERYWHERE rn! my neighbor got her entire balance cleaned out two months ago, same thing around midnight when benefits post. she had to change her pin and they gave her a new card but she nvr got the $ back. its terrible
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Malik Jenkins
•Did she ever get through to an actual person at the county? I've been calling for DAYS and can't get past the automated system!!
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Eduardo Silva
This is getting ridiculous how many people are having their benefits stolen. I ALWAYS change my PIN before the 10th of every month now. Also never use your card at sketchy stores - they might have skimmers on the card readers. And NEVER use the same PIN as your bank card or anything else! The county office told me they're seeing a huge increase in EBT theft cases because of some new scam where thieves somehow know exactly when benefits drop.
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Leila Haddad
•are we really supposed to remember a new pin every month tho?? thats crazy. i can barely remember my regular one
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Emma Johnson
•The safest approach is actually to wait until your benefits post, then immediately change your PIN through the EBT customer service line. That way even if someone has skimmed your card details, they won't have the correct PIN when they try to use it. According to BenefitsCal, you should also regularly check your EBT account transaction history for unfamiliar purchases and report them within 10 days.
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Ravi Patel
THE COUNTY DOESNT CARE!!!! ive been fighting them for 4 MONTHS over $750 in stolen benefits and they keep saying "its under investigation" but nothing happens. they expect us to just go hungry while they take forever. the whole systems corrupt if u ask me
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Astrid Bergström
•I had a similar situation last year and finally got resolution after speaking with a supervisor. The regular workers often don't have authority to expedite fraud cases. I recommend specifically asking for a "theft replacement determination" which has a different timeline than regular investigations. Make sure to file a police report too - having a case number helps.
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PixelPrincess
If you're having trouble getting through to your county CalFresh office about this theft issue, I'd recommend trying Claimyr. It's a service that helps you skip the phone queue and get connected directly to a real worker. I was dealing with a similar fraud situation where $300 disappeared from my EBT card, kept getting disconnected after waiting 2+ hours. Using Claimyr, I got through to a worker in about 10 minutes who started my claim immediately. They have a video showing how it works at https://youtu.be/eZ19FHRETv8?si=_CXnXqNXbLl26WB8 and the website is claimyr.com. Definitely worth it for urgent situations like benefit theft.
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Malik Jenkins
•Thank you!! Just tried this and finally got through to someone who could actually help! They're expediting my case because I have kids and said I should see replacement benefits within 5 days. Such a relief after weeks of getting nowhere.
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Omar Farouk
i change my pin like every 2 weeks and STILL got hacked last month. these thieves r getting smarter than the ebt system!! one trick i learned is to transfer your benefits to a different card if you have multiple people in household. like my benefits go on my card then i immediately move most to my daughters card that we dont use at stores. not sure if thats allowed but its worked so far
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Emma Johnson
•Just to clarify for everyone: while splitting benefits between household EBT cards isn't prohibited, each household member must be authorized to receive benefits. Creating additional cards solely for benefit storage isn't technically allowed under program rules. A better approach is changing your PIN immediately after benefits post and only using your card at major retailers with secure terminals.
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Freya Andersen
has anyone tried those ebt card protector sleeves? my friend says they block the card from being scanned until u take it out. idk if they actually work tho
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Eduardo Silva
•I bought some of those RFID blocking sleeves from Amazon. They might help with some types of skimming, but honestly the bigger problem is that the entire CalFresh/EBT system needs better security. The technology is so outdated compared to regular credit cards. Why don't they have chip readers or tap-to-pay security yet??
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Emma Johnson
I work with a benefits advocacy group, and unfortunately, EBT theft is increasing throughout California. Here are the current official recommendations: 1. Change your PIN immediately after benefits deposit (usually 1st-10th of month depending on your case number) 2. Check your EBT account activity at least weekly 3. Report unauthorized transactions within 10 days 4. Request an "expedited determination" if you have children or seniors in the household 5. File a police report and get a case number 6. Avoid using EBT cards at ATMs or card readers that appear damaged or have loose parts The state is currently working on implementing better security features, but until then, regular PIN changes are your best protection.
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Malik Jenkins
•This is really helpful info, thank you! I didn't know about requesting an "expedited determination" - no one at the county mentioned that option. Do you know if benefit replacements are guaranteed if theft is proven?
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Emma Johnson
•Yes, if theft is proven, replacement benefits should be issued. However, there's a limit of two theft replacements per year under current regulations. Make sure to emphasize if you have children in the household, as this often prioritizes your case. The county must make a determination within 10 days of receiving all required documentation for expedited cases.
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Leila Haddad
Just wanted to say im sorry ur dealing with this its super stressful. our family had to go to food banks twice while waiting for our case to be resolved last year. if ur in a bad spot call 211 they can tell u where emergency food assistance is near u
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Malik Jenkins
•Thank you - I appreciate the suggestion. We're definitely struggling right now. I'll call 211 today. It's just so frustrating that we're entitled to these benefits but have to jump through so many hoops after someone steals them.
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