Recently, the story of a man from Chester, Pennsylvania, who told that he had been the victim of the theft of all his SNAP benefits, went viral after appearing on a news program. His EBT card had been breached by miscreants who spent all his money, leaving him wondering how he could put food on his family’s table in the next few days.
After this story broke, not only in the news but also on social networks, dozens of complaints began to reach other news outlets in Pennsylvania. Victims told how they suffered similar situations and were left without their SNAP benefits because of the thieves.
This problem has been happening on a large scale since April, when SNAP beneficiaries started receiving emails telling them that their EBT card was allegedly blocked. They were asked to make a call to a specific number or send a message, to supposedly unlock it. All this is a plot to get the security numbers of the card or the PIN number, and thus steal all your money.
What makes many people fall is that the email address seems to come from an address “pa.gov ”, pretending to be an officer of the Pennsylvania state government. Unfortunately, it is not: it is a false address and many people fall into the trap.
Victims of SNAP Benefits Theft in Pennsylvania, New Jersey or Delaware: What Can You Do?
If you live in the states of Pennsylvania, New Jersey or Delaware, and you noticed that all your money disappeared from your EBT card, don’t worry, there are ways to get it back.
Complete an EBT card skimming or fraud affidavit form online. Remember to be absolutely honest and not to lie or inflate the numbers, and do not omit any data because you also do not want to be pointed out for fraud. Each state has its own platform and processes for applying for SNAP benefits. Virtually every state and every county in the country has online services, but if you don’t see yours on this list, you’ll have to contact us by phone or go to the nearest office to request a paper form.
Both in the case of Pennsylvania and in any state in the United States, you can also contact your nearest SNAP office to report that you have been a victim of theft of your EBT card money and thus obtain a replacement of your card.
Skimmers: What Are They and How Can They Empty Your EBT Card
According to the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) itself, skimming occurs when devices illegally installed in or inside ATMs, or even in ATM doors that are opened with the cards, capture the cards and record the PINS typed by the cardholders if applicable.
Although skimmers are often visible because they protrude over the slot in which the card is inserted, some more sophisticated ones can fit over the card reader and not be noticed.
Sometimes hidden cameras have also been found fraudulently installed in ATMs that register when the card user types in the PIN, and then compare that number with the information taken from the magnetic stripe.
Also watch out for the risk of skimmers devices being installed on POS terminals. They can be present in any market, convenience store, retailer and even restaurants. They have wireless transmission capabilities and can send your card details to the scammer nearby, receiving them with another electronic device as simple as a smartphone.
