$554,000 in Food Stamp Benefits Stolen: North Carolina Hit Hard Since August

Food Stamp Benefits Stolen: Recently, more than $554,000 in food benefit dollars were taken from residents of North Carolina, said the state Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS). EBT is used by those participating in the state’s food stamp program that is readily accessible to individuals with low income to buy their food items using SNAP Electronic Benefit Transfer cards via stores that accept the program’s benefits.

Food Stamp Benefits Stolen Impact

The increase in stolen benefits was discovered after August 18, associated with online purchases at BJ’s Wholesale Club. In response, the state of North Carolina placed a block in September on Internet transactions made from Connecticut, Florida and New York in order to stem the fraudulent activity. However, since this action was taken, there has not been any other record of fraudulent transactions as of the 6th of September.

But the fact of stolen SNAP benefits was not a new one. Since October 2022, the food stamp participants in the United States have become a target for criminals who used card-skimming, cloning and other fraudulent means. Since then, it has been reported that North Carolina alone has been a victim of a thief that has stolen more than $2.7 million in food and nutrition services.

$3822 Disability Payment Coming Soon

$360 Ontario Trillium Benefit (OTB)

How Canadians Can Claim $264.41 Child Benefits in 2024

$1312 Stimulus Check Payment September 2024

$2,000 Stimulus Checks

Reimbursement Process

In the case of participants who lost the said benefits on or before September 30, there is a procedure that you have to go through to reclaim the stolen benefits. What is more, if a participant wishes to be eligible for the program, he/she must complete and sign an affidavit and either send it to the county Department of Social Services by mail or by fax, or do it in person or give it by phone. After the claim is submitted, a new EBT card will be provided, and usually the client will receive it within 3-5 business days.

Prevention Tips

To protect against the theft of SNAP benefits, the state offers several precautionary measures for EBT cardholders:

• Monitor Your Account Regularly: Similarly, ensure that you are cautious and monitor your EBT account frequently for any suspicious charges. Customers can visit EBT Edge, the mobile application, or dial the North Carolina EBT Call Center at 1-888-622-7328 to check balance or replace a lost or stolen card.
• Choose a Strong PIN: It prevents the usage of such plain and easy PINs as 1234 and 4444. Though having a stronger PIN doesn’t hinder card skimming.
• Freeze Your Card When Not in Use: If you think your EBT card has been compromised, it is important that you save your card when it is not in use so that fraudsters cannot make unauthorized purchases.
• Block Out-of-State and Online Purchases: You should go to the EBT Edge website or app; you can set out-of-state and online transactions unavailable, which would decrease the chance of fraud.
• Inspect Card Readers: Go for card reading machines to see whether there is any foreign object or additional structures that may be used by fraudsters to steal the information on your credit card.
• Report Stolen Benefits: In case you feel that your benefits have been stolen, report to the relevant law enforcement agencies.
• Request a New Card: Contact the EBT Call Center at 1-888-622-7328 if you would like a new EBT card; you don’t have to pay for it. It is important to understand that the newly created card will not contain the money that was taken from the previous card. To replace the lost, destroyed, or damaged benefits, a participant has to seek a claim.
• Change Your PIN Regularly: It is advisable to change one’s EBT card PIN frequently, maybe every time one renews the card, to avoid any theft.

Broader Picture

The recent theft of food benefits comes to prove that electronic benefit systems are exposed to malicious attacks and thereby require enhanced security features. As much as people have embraced online convenience as a reality, it also acts as loopholes that invite fraudsters so that they can feed from these structures. For the North Carolina residents that depend on these benefits, the loss is not just monetary, but it is also a blow on their capability to feed their families.

EBT cardholders are advised to follow green dot Customer Service Security tips to ensure that their benefits’ are not ripped off through such theft schemes. Although the state has gone a long way to discourage such acts and cases of fraud, it is imperative that the individual is also very cautious with their benefits.

FAQs