WARNING: EBT card skimming at Bank of America ATMs in Imperial Valley? Has anyone lost CalFresh benefits?

omg this happened to my sister last month!!! she lost almost $400 from her ebt account and the county said it would take 30-45 days to investigate!!! she has 2 little ones and was completely broke. she said she only used BoA atms too

I work for a community resource center and we've been hearing about this issue more frequently lately. Unfortunately, EBT card skimming is becoming increasingly common, not just in Imperial Valley but throughout California. Some tips to protect yourself: 1. Always check ATMs for any suspicious devices or loose parts before inserting your card 2. Cover the keypad when entering your PIN 3. Consider switching to direct deposit if possible for cash benefits 4. Check your EBT balance frequently through the app or phone line 5. Try to use ATMs inside bank buildings rather than external ones If your benefits are stolen, immediately report it to the EBT Customer Service (1-877-328-9677) AND to your county office. Replacement can take time, but documentation is critical.

this is bs, the government just doesn't want to give us our money. they make it impossible to talk to a real person and now they blame "skimmers" when they're the ones taking it

I had my CalFresh benefits stolen twice last year! I lost $350 in October and another $220 in December. Both times I used Bank of America ATMs in El Centro. The county told me this has been happening a lot but they don't publicize it because they don't want to cause panic. It took me 6 WEEKS to get my benefits back after filing a claim. I had to fill out an EBT-2259 form for benefit theft and provide a police report. The worst part was trying to reach someone at the county - I spent HOURS on hold and kept getting disconnected. Now I only use in-store PIN purchases and avoid ATMs completely for my EBT cash benefits. And I transfer my benefits to my regular bank account as soon as they hit my EBT card.

Hey folks, I'm a CalFresh eligibility worker (not in Imperial Valley but nearby). This skimming issue is definitely real and happening across Southern California right now. We've seen a huge spike in benefit theft cases in the last 3 months. The critical thing to know is that if your benefits are stolen, California has a benefit theft replacement program, but you must report it within 10 days of discovering the theft. You'll need to complete form EBT-2259 and possibly file a police report. The process can take 30-90 days for replacement, which is far too long when you need to feed your family now. If you experience theft, immediately contact your county office to see if you qualify for expedited replacement benefits while your claim is being processed.

Try using Claimyr if you're having trouble getting through to the county office about stolen benefits. I wasted HOURS trying to report my stolen EBT funds last month until someone told me about Claimyr.com. It got me to a real person at the county in about 8 minutes instead of waiting on hold forever. They have this video showing how it works: https://youtu.be/eZ19FHRETv8?si=_CXnXqNXbLl26WB8 Saved me so much stress when dealing with my theft claim. The county worker I spoke with said they're getting about 30 skimming reports per week right now.

I think this might be connected to that big EBT theft ring they just busted in LA County. I read an article that said thieves were specifically targeting CalFresh recipients by installing skimmers at ATMs located in lower-income neighborhoods, especially on benefit issuance days. The criminals know exactly which days of the month people receive their benefits. If you must use an ATM, try using ones inside grocery stores or actual bank branches, not the outdoor ones. And definitely check your balance regularly through the EBT app or phone line. Also, changing your PIN regularly can help protect your benefits. You can do this through the EBT customer service line or the EBT website.

does anyone know if the grocery store atms r safer??? i use the one at food 4 less all the time

Just to clarify an important point that's causing confusion: This mainly affects EBT cash benefits (like CalWORKs), not your food benefits portion of CalFresh. Food benefits can only be used for food purchases, not ATM withdrawals. If you only receive food benefits through CalFresh (and not cash aid), you're still vulnerable at point-of-sale terminals in stores, but not from ATM skimmers. Be cautious when using your EBT card anywhere, but understand which benefits you have and how they can be accessed.