Fraudulent use of Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits are on the rise, and the Alabama Department of Human Resources is cautioning recipients of the program to guard against EBT card theft.
If a lawful recipient of SNAP benefits incurs the theft of benefits from his or her EBT card, DHR is accepting and processing replacement requests through each county office. Clients whose benefits were stolen prior to December 20, 2024, may be reimbursed even if it’s their second time to have their benefits stolen, subject to the client reporting the theft within 30 days of discovering it.
If you believe your EBT benefits have been stolen and/or your card has been compromised, DHR officials recommend taking the following three steps:
—change your EBT card PIN number immediately to prevent further theft.
—call or visit your local county DHR office to report your benefits having been stolen.
—complete and submit a reimbursement request affidavit with supporting documentation.
All reports of skimming, cloning or similar fraud require confirmation from the client verifying that all information contained int he reimbursement request is true and correct. Clients may be contacted about their request and those who purposefully give false information may be prosecuted.
Safeguards to reduce your risk of EBT benefits include changing your PIN often, avoiding simple PINs with repetitive or sequential numbers, keeping your PIN and card number secret, guarding against phishing (DHS will NEVER call or text asking for your PIN or card number) and checking your EBT account regularly for unauthorized charges.
Skimming occurs when devices illegally installed on ATMs or point-of-sale terminals capture data or record PINs. Card cloning occurs when data captured by skimming are used to create fake EBT cards. Other types of fraud eligible for replacement benefits include scamming through fradulent phone calls or text messages that attempt to make the participant believe they are coming from DHR.
“We are asking the public to stay vigilant when shopping at retailers that accept EBT. If you see anything suspicious immediately report it to the retailer,” said Alabama DHR Commissioner Nancy Buckner. “This is a horrible situation for our clients who are already going through tough times. Our team is working hard to process reimbursement claims timely and get our clients some relief, but we need everyone’s help to stop these criminals.”
