Riverside County, California, residents are facing a surge in Electronic Benefit Transfer (EBT) theft. There has been a substantial increase in thefts related to EBT, a system designed to securely distribute food and cash benefits, since the start this year, according to a recent news release by the Riverside County Department of Public Social Services (DPSS).
Criminals have frequently, found a way to bleed the funds from EBT cards by skimming, a strategy where they employ devices installed on ATM and POS terminals to seize the personal identification number (PIN) of unsuspecting cardholders. This allows them to create counterfeit cards and subsequently withdraw funds. From January to August, more than $3.1 million in CalWORKs (cash) and CalFresh (food) benefits were stolen predominantly through skimming activities.
Responding to the spike in EBT thefts, the DPSS partnered with the California Department of Social Services (CDSS) to develop effective strategies to fortify residents' protection over their benefits. One such measure was the unveiling of a statewide app, ebtEDGE, on November 10, that allows cardholders to securely access their account information and other features, adding an extra layer of security against theft.
Apart from leveraging technology for better protection, the DPSS, along with the CDSS, is urging cardholders to exercise caution while using ATMs and POS terminals and to closely monitor their account activity. Recommendations include obscuring the view while entering PINs, changing PINs regularly, dismissing any suspicious messages, and daily balance tracking using state resources.
Alongside equipping recipients with precautionary tools, government agencies and financial institutions must also adapt strategies to combat this type of theft. The DPSS Special Investigations Unit, for example, has successfully eliminated over 200 illegal cameras from ATMs in Riverside County in the last two years. Furthermore, a dedicated EBT theft unit collaborates with several agencies and organizations to locate and apprehend the culprits of these crimes.
As per their news release, the DPSS appeals to residents, not just to make use of these tools, but to immediately report any cases of theft or fraud.
