EDD Money Network card fraud - $630 stolen, what's the recovery process?

I went through this exact situation last month. Someone somehow cloned my card and took out $850 from an ATM in a city 60 miles away. It took exactly 10 business days for Money Network to complete their investigation and return my funds. They'll send you a packet to fill out and sign - complete it IMMEDIATELY and send it back. Make sure to check your online transaction history and highlight all the fraudulent transactions for them. They won't give you temporary credit during the investigation, which is absolutely ridiculous when you need that money for essentials. This is why I always transfer my funds to my personal bank account as soon as they hit the card now.

happened 2 me 2!!! they took $410 while i was asleep lol. money network is terrible with security!!!

THIS IS WHY THE EDD SYSTEM IS COMPLETELY BROKEN!!! Money Network has HORRIBLE security and EVERYONE I know has had their card compromised at some point. My sister had $1,200 stolen and they took SIX WEEKS to return her money - she almost got evicted because of it!!! The REAL solution is to IMMEDIATELY transfer every penny of your benefits to your personal bank account as soon as it hits the card. DO NOT leave money sitting in your Money Network account for more than a few minutes. The other problem is that EDD and Money Network like to blame each other when things go wrong, so you get stuck in this horrible cycle of being transferred between departments.

I had something similar happen last year when I was on UI. My card was skimmed at a gas station I think. I filed a claim with Money Network but they were moving so slow. I was desperate to reach someone at EDD who could help speed things up, but you know how impossible it is to get them on the phone.

My money was stolen twice within a month (over $1400 total) and Money Network did return everything, but it took about 15 days each time. Here's what I learned from the experience: 1. For faster processing, send the fraud forms via priority mail or fax them if possible 2. Get a new card issued immediately (they should have offered this) 3. Change your PIN to something completely random 4. Switch to direct deposit for future payments 5. Check your transaction history daily while on unemployment Also, I found out that keeping your card in one of those RFID blocking sleeves actually helps prevent skimming.

I just went through this whole mess in January. The Money Network cards are notoriously easy to compromise. My situation was different though - my physical card was stolen from my mailbox before I even received it. Someone activated it before me and drained the account of $900. I had to file a claim with Money Network, then also contact EDD to report the stolen card. The whole process took about 12 days before I got my money back. I immediately set up direct deposit after that experience. During those 12 days I was completely broke and had to borrow money from family. It's terrible they don't provide provisional credit while investigating.

Quick update on my earlier comment - another important step is to monitor your credit reports for the next few months. Sometimes these card thefts are part of larger identity theft attempts. While the Money Network card isn't directly tied to your SSN or credit, the thieves might have obtained other personal info along with your card details. Also, when you switch to direct deposit, your money is protected by your bank's fraud protection, which is typically much better than Money Network's. Most banks will give you provisional credit while investigating, unlike Money Network.

Just so you know what to expect - Money Network will send you a letter asking for details about the fraud. They'll ask when you last used the card, if anyone else had access to it, whether you shared your PIN, etc. Be VERY clear that you never shared your card or PIN with anyone. If they think there's even a hint that you might have been negligent with your card security, they can deny your claim. Also when you get your new card, NEVER use it at gas pumps, sketchy ATMs, or anywhere the card leaves your sight. Those are the most common places for skimming devices.

Update: Money Network finally sent me the fraud packet today. Thanks everyone for your advice. I'm filling it out right now and will fax it back to them immediately. I also managed to get through to EDD using that Claimyr service and have set up direct deposit for all future payments. Now just have to wait for them to investigate the fraud. Will update when I get my money back!

I'm dealing with a similar situation right now - someone got hold of my card info and made several unauthorized purchases totaling $445. I called Money Network immediately and they froze my account, but like others have mentioned, they won't provide temporary credit during the investigation. One thing I learned from my case worker is that you should also report the fraud to the Federal Trade Commission at IdentityTheft.gov. It creates an official record that can help with your case. Also, if you haven't already, make sure to dispute the charges with Money Network in writing as well as over the phone - having everything documented in writing strengthens your case. The waiting period is brutal when you need that money for basic expenses. I'm on day 8 of my investigation and still no resolution. Definitely switching to direct deposit once this gets sorted out. These Money Network cards seem to be targeted constantly by scammers.

This thread has been incredibly helpful - I'm going through the exact same nightmare right now! Someone used my EDD card for $520 in unauthorized withdrawals at ATMs in Los Angeles (I live in Sacramento). Filed the claim with Money Network 5 days ago and still waiting. Based on everyone's advice here, I've already: - Faxed my fraud paperwork back to Money Network - Filed a report at IdentityTheft.gov as Dylan suggested - Got a new card issued with a completely different PIN - Started the direct deposit setup process The most frustrating part is having no access to money while they "investigate" what's clearly fraud - the transactions happened 200+ miles away from where I live! It's ridiculous that they don't provide temporary credit when it's so obvious the charges are fraudulent. Thanks to everyone who shared their timelines and tips. Sounds like 10-15 business days seems to be the average, so I'm hoping to see my money back by early next week. Will definitely be transferring everything to my bank account immediately once this gets resolved!

This whole Money Network card fraud situation is becoming way too common! I just want to add a few more protective tips that have helped me avoid issues: 1. Set up account alerts through the Money Network app/website so you get text notifications for ANY transaction - even small ones. This way you'll know immediately if someone is using your card. 2. Cover your PIN with your hand/body when entering it at ATMs - there are often tiny cameras positioned to record PIN entries even at legitimate ATMs. 3. If possible, only use ATMs inside banks rather than standalone ones at gas stations or convenience stores. Bank ATMs are monitored more closely and have better security. 4. Never let your card out of your sight when making purchases. If a cashier needs to take it to another terminal, go with them. The fact that so many people in this thread have dealt with the same issue shows there's a serious security problem with these cards. I switched to direct deposit after reading horror stories like these and it's been so much better. Your regular bank's fraud protection is light years ahead of Money Network's process. Hope everyone gets their stolen money back quickly! It's awful that people already struggling with unemployment have to deal with this added stress.

I'm so sorry this happened to you! I just went through the exact same thing two weeks ago - $540 stolen from ATMs in San Diego while I was home in Fresno. It's such a violation and the stress is unreal, especially when you're already dealing with unemployment. Here's what I learned from my experience: - Money Network took exactly 12 business days to return my funds (longer than I hoped but at least they did return everything) - They required me to fill out a detailed fraud affidavit and I faxed it back the same day I received it - NO temporary credit during investigation, which was brutal for my budget - I had to get a new card issued and change my PIN immediately The good news is that based on your description (ATM withdrawals in areas you've never been to), you have a very strong case. Geographic evidence like that usually makes their investigation pretty straightforward. I immediately switched to direct deposit after getting my money back and I wish I had done it from day one. These Money Network cards seem to be magnets for fraud. If you need help getting through to EDD to set up direct deposit, several people here have mentioned good strategies. Hang in there - I know the waiting is stressful but you should get your $630 back. Document everything and follow up with them regularly!

This is exactly why I always tell people to immediately transfer their EDD funds to their personal bank account! I've been fortunate enough to avoid card fraud myself, but seeing all these stories makes me so angry on behalf of everyone dealing with this. A few additional thoughts based on what I've read here: - The 10-15 day timeline seems pretty consistent, which is helpful for planning (though still way too long when you need that money) - Definitely document EVERYTHING - take photos of the fraud packet before you send it, keep confirmation numbers from phone calls, etc. - If you're really desperate and can't wait for the investigation, some credit unions offer small emergency loans to members who can show proof of pending unemployment benefits The whole system is broken when people who are already financially vulnerable have to become fraud investigation experts just to access their benefits. I really hope California eventually moves to a more secure payment system or at least partners with banks that have better fraud protection. Stay strong everyone - it sounds like most people do eventually get their money back, even if the process is unnecessarily stressful and slow.