Residents of Colorado, particularly in Arapahoe County, are being urged to remain vigilant against scam attempts following a notable uptick in fraudulent activities aimed at recipients of food and cash assistance. According to Boulder County, imposters posing as county human services workers have been contacting beneficiaries with requests for sensitive information like EBT card numbers and PINs. Boulder County emphatically states that legitimate representatives would never ask for such private details.
The scammers, leveraging the trust placed in human services, have targeted vulnerable citizens who depend on these assistance programs, taking advantage of their situations to try and extract information that can enable theft. Boulder County officials are clear: "You should not share these numbers with anyone from the State, Boulder County, or any vendor or retail employee," per Boulder County. This kind of solicitation, fundamentally, is a breach of the established protocol for handling such sensitive data, especially coming from an international phone number, and it is a stark reminder of the persistent threat of savvy, tech-equipped fraudsters.
For those seeking certainty amidst the worry of deceptive communications, Boulder County has provided resources. Concerned residents can contact the Community Protection Division at 303-441-3700 or via email at [email protected] to verify the authenticity of contacts. Those requiring confirmation of EBT-related communication from Boulder County Human Services can do so by reaching out to 303-441-1000.
Extra protective measures have been recommended to safeguard individual benefits, including switching cash assistance to direct deposit and altering PINs frequently. Boulder County details many options to increase security, such as "Change your Personal Identification Number (PIN) often, especially before new benefits are added," which can be done by calling the number on the back of your EBT card or visiting an office location. Scammers, who can be remarkably cunning, will not hesitate to take advantage of easy-to-guess PINs or an unprotected Social Security Number (SSN).
