RIVERSIDE (CNS) - Riverside County residents receiving CalFresh public assistance whose accounts were drained by identity thieves in the last year are now eligible to obtain replacement funds, officials said Thursday.
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"We're aware this is a growing problem that has impacted individuals' and families' ability to put healthy food on the table," county Department of Public Social Services Assistant Director of Self-Sufficiency Allison Gonzalez said. "We hope to reach everyone impacted to compensate them for their losses. If you believe your food benefits were stolen, please report to us as soon as possible."
Gonzalez said CalFresh recipients who may have been previously denied replacement benefits may be eligible to receive them now.
Anyone who experienced a benefits loss from theft between Oct. 1, 2022, and Nov. 30, 2023, can apply for replacement credits to their CalFresh electronic benefits transfer, or EBT, cards.
Recipients can call CalFresh representatives at 877-410-8827, apply for replacement benefits at BenefitsCal.com, or visit any DPSS branch.
"Electronic theft occurs when benefits are stolen ... because of skimming, cloning, scamming or similar fraudulent methods," DPSS said. "If a CalFresh customer has tried to buy food with their benefits and noticed their balance is at zero or less than what they previously had after their last purchase and has not lost their EBT card, they may have experienced electronic theft."
From January to September, thieves stole over $3 million in EBT and other public assistance from recipients countywide, according to DPSS.
"For the past two years, a DPSS specialized team has removed more than 200 illegally installed cameras on ATMs and point-of-sale terminals countywide," the agency stated. "The team also works with partnering agencies to arrest suspected thieves and investigate EBT theft-related crimes."
Officials recommended that recipients monitor their accounts closely, paying attention to balances and taking immediate action, such as instituting blocks and changing PINs, whenever any unknown withdrawals are identified.
CalFresh is part of the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, which replaced food stamps.
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