Following a cyberattack on the Conduent-managed Interactive Voice Response call center, Georgia's Electronic Benefit Transfer (EBT) system has experienced significant disruptions. The incident, which occurred last Monday, July 28, resulted in an extended outage of the phone line that allows EBT cardholders to check their balances and transactions. Officials from the Georgia Department of Human Services (DHS) have announced that the phone service is expected to be back up today, as reported by FOX 5 Atlanta.
The DHS is now urging cardholders to take immediate action to secure their accounts in light of this event. According to 41NBC, suspicious activities picked up during the cyberattack have led to certain EBT cards being proactively locked before the monthly benefits are deposited. Cardholders affected by these precautionary measures will need to actively unlock their cards using the ConnectEBT app. Due to the system vulnerability, the DHS is advising EBT users to urgently download the app and use the "lock my card everywhere" feature to prevent unauthorized transactions.
In response to concerns about personal and financial security, the DHS has compiled tips to help EBT users protect their accounts from further risks. These suggestions include regularly changing PINs, specifically before the deposit of benefits, and after every online purchase using the EBT card. DHS also cautions about sharing card numbers or PINs through insecure channels such as email, text, or phone calls, a preventative measure echoed by FOX 5 Atlanta.
Additional security measures recommended by the department emphasize the importance of being vigilant in monitoring account activity. DHS suggests reviewing transactions often and reporting anything suspicious to the Department's Office of Inspector General. In a move to further strengthen security, they also advocate avoiding easily guessed PIN combinations. To ensure that benefits remain in the rightful hands, users are encouraged to never store their PIN with their card or disclose it to any external entity.
Those in need of assistance during this time can reach out to Conduent's customer service line at 1-888-421-3281. As the situation unfolds, DHS reassures cardholders that steps are being taken to resolve the issue promptly and to avoid similar occurrences in the future. Any updates or changes to the current status will likely be communicated via official DHS channels to keep the public informed.
