Utah Food Stamp Recipients Face Month Without Benefits After EBT Card Scams, Thousands Affected!

The Utah food assistance program, known as SNAP (Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program), has been hit by a wave of fraud, leaving thousands of recipients without access to their benefits.

A growing number of people are reporting that their EBT (Electronic Benefit Transfer) cards have been compromised, and they are facing delays in receiving their much-needed food assistance.

FOX 13 News has received numerous reports from viewers who say their EBT cards were hacked, leaving them with empty balances and no way to buy food for their families.

“I couldn’t even buy basic things like eggs, bread, or a can of soup. It was frustrating,” said Barton Gonzales, a food stamp recipient from South Salt Lake. “I’ve been using food stamps for years, and suddenly, I was told there was no money left on my card.”

Gonzales, like many others, discovered that his EBT card had been compromised when he went to use it on Sunday morning, only to find a zero balance.

When he contacted the Utah Department of Workforce Services (DWS), he learned he was not alone in facing this problem.

“The woman on the chat told me that my PIN had been hacked,” Gonzales explained. “She said I wasn’t the only one – it had happened to thousands of people across the country since Christmas.”

No Hack, But Rising Fraud Cases

The Utah Department of Workforce Services (DWS) has clarified that there has been no data breach or hack of their system.

According to Kevin Burt, the DWS deputy director, the increase in compromised cards is part of a national trend.

“While there have been issues with compromised EBT cards, there has not been a data breach or hack of the system,” Burt said.

Despite this, many food stamp recipients are still feeling the impact. Jennifer Snyder, a resident of North Salt Lake, also had her card compromised. She said that after trying to use her EBT card at a local gas station, it was declined.

“When I tried to buy a drink for my son at 7-Eleven, my card was denied. It said there were ‘insufficient funds,’” Snyder said. “It turns out, my card was used for transactions in Philadelphia and New Jersey – I had never even been there.”

Like Gonzales, Snyder discovered her card was used in multiple states, indicating that scammers are targeting food assistance recipients across the country.

“It’s just not fair that scammers are taking advantage of people like me, who are struggling to make ends meet,” Snyder said, her voice filled with frustration. “I feel really sad, worn down, and depressed. It’s not right.”

Federal Funds to Replace Lost Benefits Expired

While the USDA had provided temporary funds to replace lost benefits due to compromised cards in the past, that funding has since expired.

This means that Utah food stamp recipients who have lost their benefits due to fraud will not be receiving replacements this month.

Burt explained that the temporary federal funding was intended to help individuals whose cards were directly compromised by fraud.

“However, that funding has now ended, and anyone who loses benefits because of compromised cards will not be able to get a replacement,” he said.

This leaves many low-income families struggling to make ends meet. For people like Snyder, the lack of support is a huge blow.

“My family depends on this assistance,” Snyder said. “Without it, we have no way of buying food. It’s very tough.”

Precautions and Advice for Food Stamp Recipients

The Utah Department of Workforce Services is urging all food stamp recipients to be cautious and proactive in protecting their EBT cards.

Burt recommended that recipients change their PINs frequently and monitor their accounts regularly for any suspicious activity.

“If you suspect that your card has been compromised, contact Workforce Services immediately,” Burt advised. “It’s important to stay vigilant and take steps to protect your benefits.”

Gonzales, who is still waiting for his benefits to be restored, agrees with this advice. “I highly recommend that people check their accounts regularly and change their passwords,” he said.

“It’s a good idea to stay on top of things because these scammers are out there, and we need to protect ourselves.”

Stronger Security Measures Needed

Both Gonzales and Snyder have called for stronger security measures to prevent fraud from impacting more people.

While the Utah Department of Workforce Services is working to address the issue, many recipients are frustrated that they are left with little support in the meantime.

“I hope they can do something to make sure this doesn’t happen again,” Gonzales said. “We shouldn’t have to suffer because of someone else’s bad actions.”

Snyder agreed, expressing concern that the fraud crisis could continue to worsen unless stronger safeguards are put in place. “People like me are already struggling,” she said. “We need help, not more problems.”

For now, food stamp recipients in Utah are left to navigate this difficult situation on their own. They can only hope for better security in the future to ensure that their benefits are protected from fraud.

Conclusion

As fraud continues to impact food stamp recipients in Utah, many families are left without the support they need to survive. With federal funding to replace lost benefits now expired, individuals like Gonzales and Snyder are left waiting for a solution.

However, they are urging others to take precautions to protect their cards and stay vigilant.

Whether through changing PINs or closely monitoring accounts, recipients are doing their best to manage the situation as they await better security measures to safeguard their benefits in the future.

Source

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