WARNING: EBT card scam texts claiming your CalFresh card is locked - don't call back!

Ughhh these scammers are the WORST! I got one of these last month but mine said my account was 'suspended' and I needed to call right away. I almost fell for it because I was waiting for my recertification to go through and was paranoid about my benefits. Thankfully I called the actual EBT customer service number on the back of my card instead. The rep told me they've been getting tons of calls about these scam texts. NEVER call back numbers from texts claiming to be CalFresh!

Smart move calling the actual number on your card! That's exactly what we should do if we're ever unsure. Did the rep say anything about how they're trying to stop these scams?

omg i got one 2 weeks ago!!! it freaked me out cuz i just got approved and thought maybe i did something wrong with my application... my boyfriend said it was probably fake but i was still worried. thx for posting this

This is unfortunately becoming very common. The official term for this is

lol

Yes, you can report these scam attempts! The California Department of Social Services recommends forwarding the suspicious texts to 7726 (SPAM), and you can also report them to the Federal Trade Commission at ReportFraud.ftc.gov. The more reports they receive, the better they can track and potentially shut down these scammers.

Thank you for sharing this warning! These scams tend to increase around the beginning of the month when benefits are issued. The scammers know people are checking their EBT balances and are more likely to respond to messages about their accounts. I work with several CalFresh clients who have fallen victim to these scams. Once scammers get your card number and PIN, they can drain your benefits immediately. And unfortunately, unlike with bank fraud, getting stolen EBT benefits back is extremely difficult and time-consuming. Another red flag to watch for: scam texts often have spelling errors or unusual wording. Legitimate communications from CalFresh/EBT customer service are professionally written.

That's a great point about the timing! I did notice I got the text right after benefits were loaded. These scammers have it down to a science, which makes it extra dangerous for people who really rely on their benefits. Is there any protection if someone does get scammed? Or once the money's gone, it's gone?

Unfortunately, it's very difficult to recover stolen benefits. You would need to report it to both the EBT customer service and your county office, file a police report, and request a benefit replacement. But the process can take months, requires substantial documentation, and has no guarantee of success. Prevention is really the best protection here.

I got the same exact text!!! But I actually called the number back because I was worried 😟 The person asked for my card number and PIN to

Don't feel bad, these scammers are super manipulative. They know exactly what to say to scare people. The fact that you caught on and called the real number is what matters! Sometimes I think the county should send more alerts about these scams so people know what to watch out for.

When I was trying to reach my county worker about a similar scam text, I was on hold FOREVER. Finally found a service called Claimyr that got me through to a real person at the CalFresh office in like 15 minutes. They call and wait on hold for you then connect you when a worker picks up. Saved me so much time and stress. If anyone needs to report these scams to your county worker, might be worth checking out at claimyr.com - they have a video showing how it works: https://youtu.be/eZ19FHRETv8?si=_CXnXqNXbLl26WB8

Oh wow, I've never heard of this but it sounds super helpful. I tried calling my county office last month about my SAR7 and gave up after being on hold for 45 minutes. Definitely going to check this out next time I need to reach someone!

does it cost money? i hate waiting on hold but cant afford to pay just to talk to my worker

It does cost something but honestly was worth it to me after trying to get through for days. I was worried about my benefits getting cut off if I couldn't talk to someone about the verification documents they needed. The video explains everything better than I can.

my cousin got her benefits stolen last month from one of these scams, they took all $800 that was supposed to feed her kids for the month!!! she had to go to food banks while fighting with the county to get it back. these people are the lowest of the low going after folks just trying to feed their families 😡

That's horrible! Did she ever get her benefits back? I'm so worried about this happening to someone in our community who can't afford to lose even one month of food assistance.

she got like half of it back after 6 weeks but they said they couldnt prove the rest was stolen vs her using it. she had to fill out so many forms and make like 10 calls. system is broken.

Adding some additional information that might be helpful: 1. CalFresh/EBT customer service will NEVER ask for your full card number and PIN in the same conversation 2. Official communications about your case usually come through BenefitsCal messages or USPS mail 3. When benefits are actually suspended, you receive a Notice of Action by mail with appeal rights information 4. If you receive a suspicious text, don't click any links or call the number provided 5. Report the number to your cell phone provider as spam The California EBT customer service number is 1-877-328-9677. Save this in your phone so you always know which number is legitimate.

This is super helpful information! I've saved the real number in my phone now. Do you know if they're doing anything system-wide to prevent these scams? Seems like they should be able to send out mass texts warning people or something.

Thanks for the heads up! I got a similar text last week and reported it to my county worker. She said they're seeing a huge increase in these scams lately. The tricky thing is they often use

This is such an important warning! I actually work at a community organization that helps people with CalFresh applications, and we've been seeing so many of these scam reports lately. One thing I always tell clients is to set up text alerts through the official EBT app or website if they want legitimate notifications about their account. That way you know what real communications look like versus these fake ones. Also, if anyone ever feels unsure about a message they received, our office is always happy to help verify if it's legitimate - better safe than sorry when it comes to protecting your benefits!