TN Dept. Of Agriculture Acknowledges EBT Card Theft Problem

There have been a rash of EBT Card thefts lately in Cocke County. Benefit Recipients are seeing their EBT card used in locations like New York City, New York State and earlier this week, the state of Massachussets. Turns out, it is not just Cocke County residents that are being hit by these thefts. The TN Department of Agriculture is now acknowledging a problem with SNAP benefits being stolen by hackers getting a hold of cardholders’ EBT card information. The Department of Agriculture says thieves are getting the information via schemes like phishing, skimming and cloning. As of now the Tennessee Department of Human Services cannot replace stolen benefits, but an EBT card replacement plan is under review on a national level by the US Department of Agriculture, as this has become not just a state problem, but a national one as well. DHS recommends EBT card holders change their PIN on a regular basis, and check your balance frequently. If you suspect fraud, you should immediately report it to the EBT Customer Service Hotline on the back of your card. That number is 1-888-997-9444.

You can also get more information online at https://www.tn.gov/humanservices/need-help-/tdhs-fraud.html