A new EBT card scam has data thieves stealing information on EBT cards. Scammers are skimming and cloning EBT cards and are stealing benefits from Food Stamp (FNS) recipients in North Carolina. If you’ve been affected, you may be able to receive a replacement for your benefits.
Stolen Benefits Can Now Be Replaced!
Certain Food and Nutrition Services (FNS) benefits can receive replacement for benefits stolen between October 1st, 2022 through September 30th, 2024 through card skimming, card cloning, and other similar fraudulent methods.
Tips to Protect Your Information
- Check your EBT account regularly for unauthorized charges.
- Change the PIN to the EBT card regularly, using a new number each time.
- Select a “difficult” PIN.
- Regularly check card reading machines for skimming devices.
To learn more about these tips please visit here.
Read below to learn more about your rights and how to request replacement benefits:
- Were your EBT benefits/Food Stamps stolen from October 01, 2022 through August 25, 2023?
If you reported your stolen EBT or Food Stamp benefits during those dates to the EBT Call Center, you should have received a notice, a cover letter, and a blank affidavit. You must submit that affidavit by September 27, 2023 to DSS by mail, fax, in person, or over the phone. If you do not have the affidavit, copies can be found at the DSS office.
- What is an affidavit?
An affidavit is a voluntary sworn statement made under oath, which will be used as verification that you are telling the truth regarding stolen EBT or Food Stamp benefits.
- Did you discover the theft during October 01, 2022 – August 25, 2023 but did not report to the EBT call center?
You must also submit a signed affidavit by September 27, 2023. You can click on the links below to obtain the affidavit or visit your county DSS to request assistance. You must fill out, sign and submit the affidavit via mail, fax, in person or over the phone.
Click here for fillable affidavit in Spanish.
Click here for fillable affidavit in English.
- Did you discover the theft from August 26, 2023 – September 30, 2024?
You have 30 days to file an affidavit from the date of discovery. How do I file a claim? An affidavit will need to be filed out which you sign and submit via mail, fax, in person, or over the phone with a telephonic signature at DSS. North Carolina has 30 days to look over your affidavit and approve/deny. If the affidavit is denied you have the right to a hearing.
- How much will I get back?
You may not get back all of the benefits that were stolen. The replacement benefit will be the lesser of the amount stolen from the household or the amount equal to two months of the monthly allotment of the household immediately prior to the date on which the benefits were stolen.
- How many times can I submit a claim?
You can only ask for your benefits to be replaced two times in a federal fiscal year, which is October 1st – September 30th.
- What benefits can be replaced?
The following benefits can be replaced: regular Food and Nutrition Services, simplified nutritional assistance program (SNAP), Disaster Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (D-SNAP), and Emergency Allotments (EA).