The Department of Agriculture (USDA) has revealed some very amazing statistics about the replacement of stolen SNAP benefits in the United States.
These numbers only pertain to the fourth quarter of the fiscal year 2024. It would appear that they are not even for the entire year. During the previous year, each of the fifty states claimed that benefits had been taken.
In addition to this, the USDA granted approval for a total of 146,880 claims. What this indicates is that 143,903 people were affected in total.
There were a total of 446,132 transaction instances that were fraudulent. There was a stunning expenditure of $69,443,631 that was made to replace benefits that were taken.
If you have recently had your Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits stolen, you will not be able to receive a replacement until after December 20, 2024.
Because of this, you will need to take extra precautions to protect your EBT card and personal information in order to prevent being a victim of theft or fraud.
It is possible for SNAP recipients to safeguard their EBT cards
One easy approach to safeguard your Food Stamp benefits is to steer clear of simple personal identification numbers (PINs). Unfortunately, if your number combination is the easiest thing in the world for thieves to figure out, they will have no trouble stealing your money.
SNAP beneficiaries, for instance, should steer clear of employing straightforward combinations such as 1234, 9876, or 1111.
They are not recommended since con artists and thieves will be able to figure them out with relative ease.
Keeping their personal identification number (PIN) and card number a secret is something that a lot of people who get SNAP benefits ought to take into consideration.
You should not divulge these particulars, and you should make sure that everyone in your household is aware that they should be kept a secret. Protect your personal identification number (PIN) by covering it so that no one may see or read it.
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However, phishing can also have an impact on SNAP benefits
In order to obtain your personal identification number (PIN) or card information, some thieves and con artists may contact you via phone call, text message, or email. Your personal identification number (PIN) or card number will never be requested by local EBT processors, SNAP offices, or any other state agency.
Altering your personal identification number (PIN) on a regular basis is another guideline made by the USDA. When you do so once a month.
One way to prevent theft and obtain a new personal identification number (PIN) is to set an alarm to go off on the first day of the month. It may also be beneficial for you to make the change before you receive your Food Stamps.
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You should check the amount of your EBT card on a frequent basis in order to identify any fraudulent activities.
In certain states, you have the option to turn off your card to prevent it from being used when you are not using it. You should get in touch with the SNAP office in your area as soon as possible if you realize that your benefits have been taken.
