EDD Money Network card safety tip - requesting cash advances at banks to avoid fraud

wait wat? u can do that?? ive been driving to the bank of america atms specifically bc i thought those were the only safe ones. last month someone stole $2400 from my roommates card and EDD took FOREVER to investigate it. shes still waiting to get that money back!!!

This is actually useful advice. The Money Network cards are particularly vulnerable to fraud because they don't have the same protections as regular debit cards. EDD and Bank of America have been overwhelmed with fraud cases since the pandemic, with some claimants waiting 45-90 days for fraud resolution. A few additional tips for protecting your EDD funds: 1. Immediately transfer funds to your personal bank account using the Money Network app 2. Set up account alerts for all transactions 3. Check your balance regularly 4. Never respond to texts or emails claiming to be from EDD requesting card information 5. Set up a PIN that's not easily guessable (not your birth year, etc.) The cash advance method is smart because it limits card exposure, but be aware the $1 fee can add up if you're doing multiple smaller withdrawals.

Is this really a thing??? I've been TERRIFIED to use my EDD card after hearing about all the fraud. My neighbor had her entire balance stolen back in December and it took until March to get her money back! I've been taking out all the money as soon as it hits my account, but even going to the ATM makes me nervous. Can ANY bank do this cash advance thing or does it have to be a specific one? And do I need to say anything special to the teller??

I've been dealing with EDD for almost 3 years now and this cash advance technique is definitely helpful. When my account was compromised last year, it took 67 days to get my $3800 back. The fraud department is completely overwhelmed. If you're having trouble reaching anyone at EDD about fraud issues or other problems with your claim, I recommend trying Claimyr (claimyr.com). They got me through to an actual EDD representative in under 25 minutes after I'd been trying for weeks. They have a video showing how it works: https://youtu.be/JmuwXR7HA10?si=TSwYbu_GOwYzt9km But yes, limiting how often you use the card physically is smart. The cash advance method or direct transfers to your personal bank are your safest options.

My sister had her entire balance stolen TWICE!!!! The second time was after she got the replacement card. The EDD fraud department is useless. They make you fill out all these forms and then nothing happens for months. I'm going to tell her about this cash advance trick.

ok so i just tried this at my local credit union and IT WORKED!! they charged me $2 but whatever. the lady said they process it just like any other visa cash advance. this is literally gonna save me so much stress LOL i was driving 30 mins to the 'safe' bofa atm before

To answer the earlier question about transferring funds from your Money Network card to your personal bank account: 1. Register your card at moneynetwork.com or download the Money Network mobile app 2. Set up your personal bank account as an external account (you'll need your routing and account numbers) 3. Initiate a transfer from the Money Network card to your bank 4. Transfers typically take 1-3 business days 5. There's no fee for this service This is actually the safest method since your funds spend the least amount of time on the EDD card, which has been the target of numerous fraud schemes. The Money Network app also lets you freeze/unfreeze your card instantly if you suspect any suspicious activity.

Another option - u can go to Walmart n do cash back when u buy something small. I always buy a candy bar for $1 and get max cash back. They let u do up to $100 cash back per transaction. Fees are way lower than ATMs and feels safer than ATMs too

No fee for cashback at walmart, just buy something cheap

To clarify about the Claimyr service - they connected me to an actual EDD rep who was able to help with my fraud case. I was getting nowhere with the automated system. The rep I spoke with submitted an expedited fraud review and I got my money back in about 3 weeks (instead of the 2+ months others were waiting). Still not perfect but way better than getting the runaround. Combining good security practices with your EDD card (like the cash advance method mentioned here) AND being able to actually reach someone when issues occur has made dealing with unemployment much less stressful for me.

Just wanted to update that I've now successfully done the cash advance method at 4 different banks! Chase, Wells Fargo, BofA (even though it's the issuing bank), and a local credit union. Fees ranged from $1-3. I've made it part of my routine now - as soon as I get the certification confirmation email from EDD, I wait 2 days for the deposit, then immediately go get a cash advance for the full amount. No more worrying about card skimmers or hacked accounts! THANKS to everyone for the other suggestions too. I might try the transfer to personal bank option next time.

This is such valuable info! I just started getting unemployment benefits last month and have been so paranoid about using the card after reading all the horror stories online. I had no idea you could do cash advances at any bank - I thought you were stuck with just BofA ATMs or sketchy corner store ATMs. Quick question though - when you go to the bank, do you need to have an account there or can literally anyone walk in and request a cash advance? And is there a daily limit on how much you can take out this way? My payments are usually around $450 every two weeks so I'd love to just get it all at once and avoid using the card completely. Also really appreciate the tip about transferring to your personal bank account through the app. Definitely going to look into that as a backup option!

This is exactly the kind of info I wish I had when I first started receiving EDD payments! I've been using my card at ATMs for months and always felt uneasy about it, especially after hearing about all the skimming incidents. Just to confirm - when you do the cash advance at the bank, they treat it like a regular credit card transaction, right? Do you need to enter your PIN or just sign for it? I'm planning to try this at my local Chase branch tomorrow. Also wanted to add another security tip I learned the hard way - if you do have to use an ATM, cover the keypad with your other hand when entering your PIN. A friend of mine had someone recording her PIN entry from behind at a BofA ATM and they used it later after skimming her card info. These scammers are getting really sophisticated! Thanks for sharing this trick, definitely going to start doing cash advances instead of risking ATM use.

This is such a game changer! I've been dealing with EDD card fraud anxiety for months. Had my card compromised twice last year - once at a gas station ATM and another time at a grocery store. Both times it took FOREVER to get my money back and I was stressed out of my mind. I had no idea you could walk into any bank and do a cash advance! I thought the only options were BofA ATMs or transferring online. Definitely trying this next week when my payment hits. A $2-3 fee is totally worth the peace of mind vs risking another fraud incident. Quick question - has anyone tried this at smaller local banks or just the big chains? I have a small community bank near me that might be more convenient than driving to Chase or Wells Fargo. Also want to echo what others said about the Money Network app transfers - once I figured out how to link my personal checking account, it made everything so much easier. Takes a couple days but at least the money isn't sitting on that vulnerable EDD card. Thanks for sharing this tip! Going to pass it along to my unemployment support group too.

This is incredibly helpful info! I'm new to unemployment benefits and got my EDD card last week but have been too scared to use it anywhere after reading all the fraud stories online. The idea that I can just walk into any bank and get a cash advance never even occurred to me - I thought I was stuck with potentially sketchy ATMs. One question - do different banks have different fee structures for this? Like is it worth calling around to find the cheapest option, or are the fees pretty much the same everywhere ($1-3 range)? Also planning to set up that Money Network app transfer to my personal account as backup. Really appreciate everyone sharing their experiences here - makes me feel way less anxious about managing these payments safely!