CalWORKs EBT card theft - money withdrawn from ATM but still have my card?

This happened to me last November! Someone skimmed my card somehow and took $380 at an ATM I never go to. Call the EBT customer service number (on the back of your card) IMMEDIATELY to report it stolen. They'll cancel the card and send you a new one. Then you need to fill out an EBT-2259 form for cash aid theft - you can find it online or ask your worker for it. I got my money back but it took almost 3 weeks. I was getting nowhere with the regular county line until I used Claimyr (claimyr.com) to actually reach a real person. They have this service where they wait on hold for you and call when someone answers. Saved me hours of frustration and I finally got through to someone who could help. There's a video showing how it works: https://youtu.be/jzISHxCPLwE

thats scard skimming happens all time now. they got devices that copy ur card when u swipe at store or atm. its happened 2 me twice!!

REPORT IT IMMEDIATELY!!!!!!! They only give you 10 days from when it happens to report or you WON'T get your money back. The county does NOT care if you can't pay your rent. This happened to my sister last month and she had to borrow money from everyone because they investigate for SO LONG before replacing anything. The system is designed to punish us even when we're victims!!!

I know exactly what you're going through! First, call the EBT Customer Service line (877-328-9677) right away to report the theft and get your card canceled. Then immediately contact your county office to report the theft and request form EBT-2259 "EBT Cash Benefit Theft Report." Here's what you need to know: 1. You have 90 days from the date of theft to REPORT it 2. The form must be submitted within 90 days of the theft 3. You'll need to provide details about the unauthorized transaction 4. Once approved, replacement benefits can be issued Tips for prevention: - Change your PIN regularly - Cover the keypad when entering your PIN - Check your balance frequently - Don't share your card or PIN with anyone And yes, card skimming with EBT cards is unfortunately becoming common. Thieves install devices on ATMs or POS terminals that capture card information.

Can u check if ur card has any scratches or weird marks on the magnetic strip? My cousin had her benefits stolen and the investigators said someone probably swapped her card at the store with a fake one that looked identical. They make copies that look EXACTLY the same but have different numbers programmed. Check if the numbers on your card match your last statements.

To clarify the timeline confusion: You have 90 days to REPORT the theft to the county welfare department, but it's best to report it as soon as possible. The 10-day timeframe mentioned earlier may be referring to the time to report a lost or stolen card, which is different from reporting unauthorized transactions when you still have your card. For EBT cash benefit theft, California regulations (MPP Section 16-705) allow benefit replacement when: 1. The theft was due to electronic misuse 2. You still have possession of your card 3. You didn't give anyone permission to use your card/PIN When you call, be sure to specifically mention "electronic benefit theft" and request the EBT-2259 form. Document everything, including who you spoke with and when.

same thing happened 2 my neighbor last month!!! she said they making fake card readers that steal ur info when u swipe. always use atms inside banks now not the ones at stores or gas stations!!!

@OP - Just checking if you were able to file your report? One more thing I forgot to mention is that when this happened to me, I asked my worker about emergency assistance while waiting for the investigation, and they helped me with a small emergency payment since my rent was due. Don't be afraid to tell them if you're at risk of eviction - there are sometimes emergency funds available specifically for these situations.

Has anyone noticed the welfare office acts like we're lying when this happens?? My friend had to call FIVE TIMES before anyone took her seriously about her cash aid being stolen. They kept asking her the same questions over and over like they were trying to catch her in a lie. Meanwhile she couldn't feed her kids!!

I'm so sorry this happened to you! This is becoming way too common. I work at a legal aid clinic and we've been seeing more EBT theft cases lately. A few things that might help: 1. When you file the EBT-2259 form, include a written statement explaining everything - where you were when the theft occurred, that you had your card the whole time, etc. The more detail the better. 2. If you have any receipts from transactions you made around the same time period, bring those to show your card was in your possession. 3. For emergency assistance while waiting - don't just accept "no" from the first person. Ask specifically about "immediate need" payments or emergency aid. Different workers know about different programs. 4. Consider filing a police report too, even if they say there's nothing they can do. Having a police report number can sometimes help with the county investigation. The skimming is real - they're using devices that steal your card info when you swipe, then create duplicate cards. It's not your fault and you're not crazy. Stay persistent with the county office and don't let them make you feel like you're lying. You deserve to have your benefits protected.

I went through this exact same situation about 6 months ago - $342 stolen from my CalWORKs cash aid while my card was in my purse the whole time! I was so confused and scared they wouldn't believe me. Here's what worked for me: I called the EBT customer service line immediately and they were actually really helpful. They explained that card skimming is super common now - criminals put devices on card readers that steal your info without you knowing. Then they make fake cards with your account info. The investigation took about 2 weeks for me, but I did get all my money back. The key things that helped: - I reported it within 24 hours of discovering it - I had receipts showing I used my card at a different location around the same time as the theft - I was very detailed in my written statement on the EBT-2259 form For the emergency assistance - don't give up! Call back and ask different people until someone helps. I had to call 3 times before I found a worker who knew about the emergency funds. Tell them you're facing eviction due to the theft and ask specifically about "immediate need payments" or "emergency assistance." You're going to get through this! The system can be frustrating but they do replace stolen benefits when it's clearly fraud like this. Keep all your paperwork and don't let them make you feel like you did anything wrong.

I'm so sorry this happened to you! As someone who's been on CalWORKs for a few years, I know how terrifying it is when your benefits get stolen, especially when it's rent money. The skimming scams are getting really bad - they put these tiny devices on card readers that you can't even see, and they steal your card info without you knowing. Here's what I learned when my friend went through this same thing: 1. You did the right thing calling EBT customer service first. Make sure you get a reference number for your report. 2. When you fill out the EBT-2259 form, be as detailed as possible. Write down exactly where you were when the theft happened, that your card never left your possession, and include any receipts from legitimate transactions you made around that time. 3. For emergency help with rent - call your county office and specifically ask about "emergency assistance due to EBT theft." Some workers don't know about all the emergency programs available. If the first person says no, ask for a supervisor. 4. File a police report too, even if they say they can't investigate. Having that report number can help with your county case. The good news is that people ARE getting their money back from these thefts - it just takes time. Don't let them make you feel like you're lying. This is happening to so many people right now. You're going to get through this!