The Washington State Department of Social and Health Services has been tracking the loss of food and cash benefits due to EBT card fraud since April 2022. Data shows an alarming surge in fraud due to card reader fraud, resulting in a total loss of $5.5 million for 9,000 recipients of Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) food and cash benefits in Washington state. On average, affected households have lost nearly $600 in benefits they use to purchase food and other necessities.
DSHS is taking steps to help SNAP and cash recipients protect their EBT cards and compensate them for benefits stolen by scammers. In total, DSHS has processed more than 8,000 claims and compensated $3 million in food benefits.
The DSHS Office of Refugee and Immigrant Assistance (ORIA) recently launched a new statewide education campaign to inform recipients in Washington state’s refugee and immigrant communities about the risks of benefit fraud, common signs of fraud, and steps they can take to protect their EBT card information.
Materials produced as part of the campaign have been translated into 15 languages, including Arabic, Amharic, Chinese, Dari, Korean, Pashto, Punjabi, Somali, Spanish, Russian, Ukrainian and Vietnamese.
“Our goal is to reach people wherever they are with the information they need to avoid scams and protect their benefits,” said Bryce Montgomery, interim director of the Community Services Department. “This includes producing materials in the many languages spoken throughout Washington state.”
“Our community partners are doing important work to educate people so they are fully informed about EBT fraud and know the steps they can take to keep their benefits safe,” Montgomery added.
To ensure the materials reach people, ORIA has partnered with nearly a dozen community-based organizations that serve immigrant and refugee communities in King, Snohomish and Yakima counties. Many of ORIA’s partners are hosting in-person learning sessions for SNAP recipients using the campaign materials.
People across Washington state saw these helpful tips in social media content and heard radio ads in multiple languages throughout June.
If you’re a SNAP recipient who believes you’ve been scammed or would like to learn more about protecting your EBT card, the following resources can help.
– Download the ebtEDGE app or visit ebtEDGE.com and log in through the Cardholder Portal. The app is available in English, French Creole and Spanish. The web portal is available in Arabic, English, Chinese, French Creole, Polish, Russian and Spanish.
– Call 888-328-9271 to speak with an EBT representative. Interpretation services are available.
– Visit your local DSHS Community Services office or call the Customer Service Contact Center at 877-501-2233. Interpretation services are available.
