The Ohio Department of Job and Family Services is sounding the alarm for those on Ohio's Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), warning beneficiaries to stay vigilant against a spike in benefits theft through a sneaky tactic known as "skimming." According to the Ohio Department of Job and Family Services, in a news release, scammers are targeting Electronic Benefit Transfer (EBT) cardholders, stealthily attaching devices on card readers that can swipe personal card details during what should be routine transactions.
Skimming allows these criminals to capture EBT card numbers when unsuspecting SNAP recipients swipe their card through compromised point-of-sale systems, and the increased frequency of such incidents has pushed state officials to advise the public on this growing threat, offering tips and resources to help protect against the sophisticated scams.
In an unfortunate event where a SNAP participant does fall prey to this sort of fraud, the state agency has stated that affected individuals can request replacement benefits to recover their stolen funds. The process for making such a request can be found in the detailed information provided in the full release by the Ohio Department of Job and Family Services. Recipients of SNAP benefits are strongly encouraged to read through these resources to better arm themselves against the increasingly cunning tricks of modern-day swindlers.
Fraudsters are continuously refining their methods, but being aware is the first defensive stance in safeguarding one's entitlements – EBT cardholders should be cautious about where and how they use their cards, regularly check their account balances, and immediately report any suspicious activity to the authorities, these are just a few of the preventative steps listed in the thorough advisory from the Ohio Department of Job and Family Services.
