EBT Electronic Theft Resources

BEWARE OF EBT ELECTRONIC THEFT AND SCAMS

California has experienced an increase in Electronic Benefits Transfer (EBT) theft. If you think your benefits may have been stolen, please call the number on the back of your EBT card, (877) 328-9677 or contact your county office, to cancel the card. Please watch this video to learn how to protect yourself from benefit theft:

Video: Watch Out for EBT Scams!

CAN I GET MY STOLEN BENEFITS REPLACED?

Food Benefit Theft:

Cardholders must file the Report of Electronic Theft (EBT 2259 - English, EBT 2259 - Spanish) with their county office within 90 calendar days from the date of the theft in order to be eligible for food benefit replacement. EBT Scamming Acknowledgment (EBT 2259A) is not required for electronic food benefit theft claims.

Note: CalFresh recipients who were victims of electronic theft between October 1, 2022, through November 30, 2023, may be eligible for the retroactive benefit replacement. Retroactive theft claims must be submitted by February 29, 2024.

You may get your food benefits replaced if:

• You had your EBT card with you when benefits were stolen from your EBT account.
  and
• One of the following occurred:
  • Your card was skimmed by electronic equipment taking your card information without your knowledge.
    or
  • You were scammed into giving an unauthorized third-party your EBT card number and personal identification number (PIN). This could be someone that you believed to be the EBT vendor, an approved retailer, or a government entity.

Note: Benefits such as Supplemental Nutrition Benefit (SNB) and Transitional Nutrition Benefit (TNB) are not eligible for replacement benefits

Cash Benefit Theft:

Cardholders must file the Report of Electronic Theft (EBT 2259 - English, EBT 2259 - Spanish) with their county office within 90 calendar days from the date of the theft in order to be eligible for cash benefit replacement.

You may get your cash benefits replaced if:

• You had your EBT card with you when benefits were stolen from your EBT account.
  and
• One of the following occurred:
  • Your card was skimmed by electronic equipment taking your card information without your knowledge.
    or
  • You were scammed into giving an unauthorized third-party your EBT card number and personal identification number (PIN). This could be someone that you believed to be the EBT vendor, an approved retailer, or a government entity.

Note: scam replacements for cash benefits are limited to one time within a 36-month period.

USE ebtEDGE TO PROTECT YOURSELF FROM ELECTRONIC THEFT

Use the free ebtEDGE mobile and web-based application to manage your CalFresh and/or CalWORKs benefits, check your balances, and review transaction history. Available now for download in the Apple App Store (iOS) and Google Play Store (Android). No mobile device? No problem! You can manage your account online at www.ebt.ca.gov.

Key features include:

• Biometrics to login
• Reset PIN
• Freeze card and unfreeze card functionality
• Block out-of-state transactions
• Block internet transactions
• View benefit schedule
• View last 365 days of transactions
• Order EBT card replacements
• Connect multiple cards to one authorized account