EBT Scams On The Rise; Officials Advise Precautions

Nearly 150,000 West Virginia households depend on Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits to feed their families, according to the Bureau for Family Assistance’s most recent report.

SNAP, colloquially called “Food Stamps,” helps pay for food for low-income working West Virginians, as well as the disabled and the elderly.

In 2023, more than 18% of the state’s residents participated in SNAP, making West Virginia the third highest in the nation for residents using emergency food assistance.

According to the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), which administers the program, 37.3 percent of those households that receive SNAP benefits have children.

With rates of card skimming on the rise nationally, state officials are advising proactive measures to protect EBT cards.

Card skimming occurs when a device is installed on or inside ATMs and other point-of-sale terminals to capture card data and PIN codes.

The USDA reported more than $220 million in stolen SNAP benefits in 2024. That same year in West Virginia, more than $92,000 was stolen from 171 families.

Ahead of the release of May’s supplemental nutrition assistance funds, the Department of Human Services (DoHS) urged SNAP recipients to take precautionary steps to protect their benefits.

“This is about taking preventive steps to protect yourself from card skimming,” said Janie Cole, DoHS Bureau for Family Assistance Commissioner. “SNAP benefits help put food on the table for thousands of West Virginia families. We want every cardholder to know how to protect their benefits before they are at risk.”

DoHS advised SNAP recipients to block out-of-state transactions and check card readers for loose parts, tape or wires that look unusual before proceeding with a transaction.

In a Thursday press release, Jacquelyn Hoppe, office of EBT director, recommended recipients update their PIN at the beginning of each month before benefits are issued.

“If your EBT card and PIN are stolen, your benefits can disappear before you even realize what happened,” said Hoppe. “Taking a few quick steps now can save you a lot of frustration later.”

According to the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), cash EBT benefits are often cashed out fraudulently between midnight and 6 a.m., the day the benefits become available.

The FBI also advised that EBT cardholders have limited protections and may not be fully reimbursed for stolen benefits, or there could be weeks-long delays in reimbursement.

The USDA tracks SNAP stolen benefits nationwide. Their data shows that since July 1, 2023, 287 West Virginians have filed stolen benefits claims.

Of those claims, 208 were approved, 72 were deemed invalid, and seven were denied because of “untimely claims.”

Altogether, from July 1, 2023 to Sept. 30, 2024, 860 fraudulent SNAP transactions occurred in West Virginia, costing $117,720.17 in stolen benefits. In West Virginia, 76%, or $90,388 of that total, has been replaced, according to the USDA.

West Virginia SNAP recipients who think their information may have been stolen should call the office of EBT at 304-558-4126.