State: Watch Out For Food Stamp Thieves

George Prendergast was sitting in the Downtown Ives Main Library when he heard an announcement over the intercom: there would be a presentation on EBT theft on the lower level of the library.

Prendergast’s no stranger to the topic — he’s been a victim of identity theft four times, and now he changes his passwords every two weeks. He made his way downstairs.

The speakers he saw, Connecticut’s Department of Social Services (DSS) representatives Ann Rodriguez and Deputy Director of Communications Christine Stuart, sought to answer an important question that many Electronic Benefit Transaction (EBT) and Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) recipients might not even know to ask: How do I keep my benefits from being stolen, and what do I do if they are?

EBT theft, a national phenomenon, is hitting Connecticut hard. Stolen SNAP and EBT benefits jumped by 1,800 percent from fiscal year 2023 to 2024. Even just over the course of this year so far, thefts have soared from 177 instances in January to 2,855 in June, CT Mirror reported earlier this month.

How exactly do scammers steal benefits?

Phishing, skimming, and card cloning.

Phishing happens when scammers call SNAP recipients pretending to be DSS and ask for PIN numbers and card information — something that Rodriguez promised DSS would never actually do.

Scammers sometimes put what are known as ​“skimming devices” on ATMs or card readers so that when cards are swiped, their information can be collected. Then cards can be cloned and benefits stolen. Stuart just received word of a skimming device at LaBonne’s Market in the town of Prospect.

Because EBT cards don’t have a microchip, they are also less protected.

Thanks to President Joe Biden’s extension of the 2018 farm bill — aka the Agriculture Improvement Act of 2018 — and pilot program legislation passed in late December 2022, EBT recipients are currently able to request the replacement of stolen benefits.

But this legislation comes with three main drawbacks: The value of the replacement can’t be more than the amount of two months of benefits. Recipients can’t receive replacement more than twice in one fiscal year. And unless Congress reauthorizes the farm bill, replacement ends after this Sept. 30.

Which is why DSS seeks to help SNAP recipients avoid requiring replacement in the first place, and get ahead of scammers.

DSS tips for avoiding EBT theft include:

• Avoid simple PIN numbers — and don’t write your PIN on your card.

• Keep your PIN and card number a secret from anyone outside of your household.

• Beware of phishing.

• Change your PIN at least once a month, before your monthly benefits are added to your card. Right now, this can only be done over the phone with DSS.

• Check your EBT account often for unauthorized charges, and report suspicious activity.

• Request a new card if you think your benefits were stolen.

Stuart said that there’s been a surge in monthly PIN changes, so she believes that the word is getting out about how to keep benefits safe. Still, DSS is working so that recipients don’t need to have the hassle of changing their PIN every month. ​“You are the only one who can protect your benefits, and we don’t think that should be the case,” she said.

With replacement benefits set to expire in almost two months, DSS wants as many benefit recipients to know how to keep themselves safe as possible.

“So, if everyone tells one person … ” Stuart said.

“… even if you send them to our website, it has a lot of information,” Rodriguez agreed.

Stuart is working with the Secret Service to make sure Congress receives the message of how much of a security threat these scammers pose.

As for skimming — the weird trick where thieves can record card information with a magnetic swipe? Luckily, the devices are flimsy and can usually be detected with a shake of the card machine.

“I’m a shaker now,” Stuart said.

Jeff Williams, a digital inclusion librarian who was in attendance at the Ives talk, said he was surprised to learn that scammers can tamper with card readers when employees are nearby.

“They can do sleight of hand easily,” Prendergast said from the audience. ​“They’re masters.”

“And think of self-checkout,” Stuart pointed out. ​“Six registers with one employee.”