EBT Scam Hits Orange County, Social Services Warns

ORANGE COUNTY, CA — Orange County Social Services is warning EBT cardholders of a scam circulating Thanksgiving week.

EBT cardholders are being notified, falsely, via text, email, or phone call, that their cards and case will be discontinued unless they verify their EBT card number.

This scam preys on some of the county's most vulnerable residents, especially during the Thanksgiving holiday week. CalFresh benefits are deposited monthly into an individual account, accessible by swiping the card through a grocery store checkout stand and entering your PIN. Formerly known as the Food Stamps Program, the service assists the users with access to healthy food at grocery stores everywhere.

The card number verification scam is not the first to reach cardholders. Social Services has told Patch that text messages are often used to attempt to gain illegal access to other people's benefits.

"If you receive a text message or email asking for your personal EBT information, contact your county public assistance office and do not reply to the text or email message," a spokesperson said. "Please do not respond with any information."

Any issues should be reported immediately to the OC Social Services Center at 800-281-9799 or EBT helpline at 877-328-9677.