Skimmers stealing benefits from Ga., S.C. SNAP recipients

AUGUSTA, Ga. – SNAP benefits are being wiped clean from some accounts and those who rely on the food stamp program say they’re not getting their payments — putting their livelihoods at risk.

The Georgia Department of Human Services said it has been dealing with thousands of reports of stolen EBT card funds dating back to 2023.

DHS officials said the department has spent $3 million in replacement food stamp benefits for those affected. The department said fraud is believed to be tied to skimming, or cloning and theft of EBT cards.

Susan Peek was supposed to get her SNAP benefits on Oct. 17.

“I depend on my food stamps to feed my family,” Peek said.

Peek said she believes there’s more to the issue.

“They’re saying that it’s skimmers, that when we go to the store, the skimmers are taking them. No, they’re never making it to our card. So it’s not coming when we use the cards out in public,” she said.

It’s also a problem across the Savannah River in South Carolina.

The South Carolina Department of Social Services sent out an advisory this week urging the 277,000 households receiving SNAP benefits to take these steps:

• Use Connect EBT on your mobile device. When using an app to access your benefits on a mobile device, be sure to use the official app for South Carolina DSS SNAP customers, which is Connect EBT. Unofficial apps are prevalent on app stores for both Apple and Android products. The South Carolina EBT cardholder portal can be accessed at https://www.connectebt.com.
• Spot card skimmers. Before you swipe your EBT — or any — card, pay attention to the card reader. Is it loose, off-center, or do parts of it wiggle? Then don’t put your card there. Report it to the store manager and consider shopping elsewhere.
• Change your PIN often. Do it at least once a month, right before you get your next benefits.
• Watch for phishing. State agencies and EBT processors will never call or text you to ask for your PIN or card number. Anyone who does is a scammer.
• Check your EBT account regularly for unauthorized charges. If you see any, change your PIN right away to stop the thief from making new purchases — and contact your local SNAP office.

South Carolina SNAP clients who believe their benefits were electronically stolen should immediately report the loss to local law enforcement, and recipients should call the 24-hour toll-free customer service line at 800-554-5268 to cancel their EBT card and protect their benefits.

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