How to File an EBT Fraud Report After a Theft
Money gone from an EBT card? Here is what counts as EBT fraud, what to gather, and where to report it.
Money vanishing from an EBT card hits harder than most fraud. Those benefits buy food for the month, and there is often no way to replace them fast. This page walks you through making an EBT fraud report.
Why EBT cards are a prime target
The FBI says skimming crews have gone after EBT card data in a big way since 2021 or earlier. The reason is simple. The FBI says criminals like EBT cards and some other benefits cards. Most of these cards have no chip. Chips protect payments far better than magnetic stripes. With no chip, these cards are much easier to copy and drain.
The FBI also says a few retailers help the criminals by taking part in the theft and the cash-outs. They help criminals steal EBT card data and spend the money. And the FBI says criminals often cash out SNAP benefits between the first and tenth of the month.
What EBT fraud looks like
Two attack routes cover most of it.
Skimming. The FBI says to visit ic3.gov, its Internet Crime Complaint Center, to report skimming.
Phishing, smishing and vishing. The FBI says police have seen a big jump in these scams aimed at EBT card data. Phishing uses emails that try to get your personal details or card numbers. The FBI says smishing is the same trick sent by text message rather than by email. The FBI says vishing arrives as a phone call, usually one made by a recorded voice.
The FBI says the scammer often pretends to be a bill collector, a bank, or your state benefits office. The FBI says the goal is to get you to punch in your card information before you stop and question it. The FBI says they build panic into the message, often by saying your EBT account will be shut down or your money is in danger.
What to gather before you report
The FBI says a scam report should include:
- The name the scammer used, the dates of contact, and the channel they reached you through
- Any phone numbers, email addresses, mailing addresses, or websites tied to the scammer
- The payment method you used and the destination of the funds
- A report should also cover the instructions the scammer gave you and a description of how things unfolded between you
The FBI also says to hold on to your original documents, emails, faxes, and any logs of your communications. Screenshot texts before they disappear.
Where to report EBT fraud
The FBI says to report skimming at ic3.gov, its Internet Crime Complaint Center. It also says to report a scam no matter the dollar amount. To see every route open to you, read how can I report a scam. Our guide to report fraud FTC gov covers the FTC side, and our guide to the FBI fraud report explains what that complaint covers.
What to expect after you report
Here is the hard part. The FBI says EBT cardholders generally have limited protections compared with holders of common credit and debit cards. It also says EBT cardholders may not be reimbursed fully or at all for benefits lost to criminals. When reimbursement does occur, it may take weeks.
No one can promise your benefits will come back.
If you did not lose money
Got a suspicious call but no missing funds? The FTC's advice says to visit DoNotCall.gov and fill out a reporting form. Report the date and time of the call if you can. The FTC studies complaint data to spot illegal callers. The FTC also releases the phone numbers people report to the public every business day. Those released numbers help phone companies and other partners develop call-blocking and call-labeling solutions. The FTC says your reports also help law enforcement identify the people behind illegal calls.