At the end of January, Atlanta mother of three, Fetemia Benson, says she logged into her ConnectEBT app expecting to see her usual SNAP balance, the roughly $900 she counts on to feed her family each month. Instead, she was hit with an “unauthorized” error and discovered her card had been canceled not once, but twice, just days before her benefits were supposed to land.
Benefits Vanish Online, Police Report Follows
Benson told reporters that the entire $900 had already been spent through Walmart’s online platform, leaving her with nothing for groceries. She says she filed an online report with the Atlanta Police Department, hoping investigators can trace where the money went.
According to FOX 5 Atlanta, the Georgia Department of Human Services (DHS) is urging SNAP recipients to treat their EBT cards like cash: change PINs regularly, lock or replace cards through the ConnectEBT app, and report suspected fraud immediately to the DHS Office of Inspector General at [email protected] or 877-423-4746 (option 4). DHS also noted that a federally funded replacement program covered thefts between Oct. 1, 2022, and Dec. 20, 2024, and that benefits stolen on or after Dec. 21, 2024, are not eligible for replacement. The agency says victims who qualify can submit affidavits through June 20, 2025.
Federal Safety Net for Stolen SNAP Ended as Scams Surged
The USDA’s Food and Nutrition Service reports that the federal government’s statutory authority to replace stolen SNAP benefits expired on Dec. 20, 2024. That cutoff date means benefits taken on or after Dec. 21, 2024, are no longer eligible for federal reimbursement.
The agency maintains a stolen-benefits dashboard and cautions that reported figures keep shifting as states update cases and investigations move along. Local coverage and investigative work have documented a steep rise in electronic SNAP theft and card-skimming schemes tied to online and out-of-state transactions, with some outlets reporting that Georgia is among the hardest hit. Atlanta News First has tracked thousands of alleged victims and millions of dollars in reported losses.
What SNAP Households Can Do Right Now
State officials and advocates say SNAP users should move fast if anything looks off: change your EBT PIN often, lock or replace your card through the ConnectEBT app, and keep an eye on your balance every day, especially right before your usual deposit date.
As FOX 5 Atlanta reports, clients who suspect theft should contact the Georgia DHS Office of Inspector General and also file a police report so there is an official record for investigators. For families suddenly left without grocery money while they wait to see whether anything can be recovered, local food pantries and community assistance groups may be able to help cover the gap.
