EBT card hacked - balance drained by out-of-state purchases. What to do?
I just checked my EBT card balance and it's completely empty! I know for a fact I had money on there yesterday. When I looked at the transaction history, it shows purchases made in a different state. I'm freaking out right now. Has anyone else experienced this? What should I do to get my money back and secure my account?
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Tom Maxon
I found a way to solve EBT card fraud and theft, watch this: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CfXHl7jgD44
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Samantha Howard
Oh no, that's terrible! 😱 You need to call the EBT customer service line ASAP and report the fraud. They should be able to freeze your card and start an investigation. Make sure you have all the transaction details ready when you call.
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Benjamin Kim
•Thanks for the advice. I've been trying to call all morning but the wait times are insane. Any tips on getting through?
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Samantha Howard
•Ugh, I feel ya. The wait times are the worst. 🙄 Try calling right when they open or late in the evening. Sometimes that works better.
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Megan D'Acosta
•Pro tip: use claimyr.com. It's a calling tool that dials the phone menu, stays on hold, and connects you when an agent picks up. Costs $20 but saved me hours of hold time.
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Benjamin Kim
•Really? That sounds too good to be true. Has anyone else tried this?
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Sarah Ali
•I used it last month when my card got declined. Worked like a charm! Definitely worth the $20 imo
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Ryan Vasquez
This happened to me last year. It's a nightmare but don't panic. Here's what you need to do: 1. Call EBT customer service immediately to report the fraud 2. File a police report - you'll need this for the investigation 3. Keep all documentation of the fraudulent charges 4. Follow up with your local DSS office 5. Monitor your credit report for any suspicious activity It took about 3 weeks, but I eventually got all my money back. Stay persistent!
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Benjamin Kim
•Thank you so much for the detailed steps! Did you have any issues with getting food while waiting for the refund?
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Ryan Vasquez
•Yeah, it was tough. I had to rely on food banks for a couple weeks. Some DSS offices can issue emergency benefits, so definitely ask about that when you talk to them.
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Avery Saint
man this system is so broken. why tf don't they have better security on these cards? 🤬 sorry ur dealing with this bs OP
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Taylor Chen
I've heard of scammers using card skimmers at ATMs to steal EBT info. Always check the card reader before you use it!
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Keith Davidson
•Good point! I always give the reader a good tug before I use it. Better safe than sorry!
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Ezra Bates
•Wait, how do you know if it's a skimmer? What should we look for? 🤔
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Taylor Chen
•Look for any loose parts, unusual protrusions, or differences in color/material on the card reader. If something looks off, don't use it and report it to the store manager.
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Ana Erdoğan
I found a method to get someone on the phone quickly. I used this site's (claimyr.com) calling tool that dials the phone menu, stays on hold, waits for a live agent to pick up, then sends the call to my phone. It does cost $20, but it works. Here's the link: https://claimyr.com
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Sophia Carson
•Sounds sketchy. How do you know it's legit?
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Ana Erdoğan
•I was skeptical too, but I tried it out of desperation. It actually worked and saved me hours of hold time. They have good reviews online too.
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Elijah Knight
•20 bucks tho? That's steep for people on benefits 😬
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Ana Erdoğan
•True, it's not cheap. But for me, it was worth it to avoid taking a day off work to sit on hold. Depends on your situation I guess.
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Brooklyn Foley
OP, make sure you change your PIN asap! And don't use obvious numbers like birthdays or 1234. Stay strong, you'll get through this! 💪
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Jay Lincoln
This is why I always transfer my benefits to my bank account as soon as they hit. Easier to dispute fraud with a bank than deal with EBT customer service imho.
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Jessica Suarez
•Wait, you can do that? How? I didn't know this was an option!
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Jay Lincoln
•Yep! You can set up direct deposit for cash benefits. Food benefits still have to stay on the EBT card tho. Check your state's DSS website for instructions.
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Isabel Vega
So sorry this happened to you! 😔 I went through the exact same thing a few months ago. Here's what worked for me: 1. Call the EBT fraud hotline immediately (not just regular customer service) - they have a separate line for fraud cases 2. Ask them to put a "fraud alert" on your account while they investigate 3. Request emergency replacement benefits - they can sometimes issue these within 24-48 hours for fraud cases 4. File a police report online if your local PD allows it (saves time) 5. Document EVERYTHING - take screenshots of your transaction history, write down case numbers, etc. The whole process took about 2 weeks for me, but I got every penny back. Also, they'll send you a new card with a new number automatically. Hang in there - the system does work, it's just slow! 🙏
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