Each week, the San Bernardino County Sheriff’s Department receives reports of EBT fraud from residents of the Morongo Basin. EBT, which stands for Electronic Benefits Transfer, is an electronic system that allows people to pay for food using government provided assistance. Cards are issued to each EBT user, but like credit cards, fraud is an unfortunately common occurrence.
In a typical report, a victim sees unusual activity on their EBT account, usually a withdrawal, often very close to the total amount in the account. Representatives from the Sheriff’s office say that, in many cases, the EBT holder has previously given their PIN number to someone who is not an authorized user of the account to use on a one time basis, and that this person continues to use the EBT card without the card holder’s permission.
To prevent EBT fraud, never share your PIN with anyone outside of a transaction. Several EBT scams are common, including offers of free government cell phones, gift cards, or protection plans, all of which request the user’s PIN number. Some scams use fake customer service lines to ask for personal information and PIN numbers. Many of these scams are sent via text message or email, so be mindful of who is contacting you and be careful who you share your information with.
If you have been the victim of an EBT scan, contact Morongo Basin Sheriff’s Station at 760 366-4175
