SNAP recipients encouraged to take action after law enforcement discovers skimming devices
(OKLAHOMA CITY) Oct. 29, 2024 - Over the weekend, law enforcement agents discovered and removed nine skimming devices from various convenience stores and grocery stores in the Oklahoma City metro area. These are in addition to skimming devices that were discovered over the past several weeks in the Tulsa and Oklahoma City metro areas, Blanchard and Enid. While Oklahoma Human Services is unable to identify the retail stores where the skimming devices were located due to an ongoing investigation, the agency and the Office of Inspector General encourage Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) recipients to change their card PINs before benefits are issued on Nov. 1. The agency urges this action even for those who have recently changed their PINs.
Recipients may change their PIN by calling 1-888-328-6551 or visiting connectEBT.com. They are also encouraged to visit the Protect Your SNAP web page to read about the additional safety measures they can take to secure their benefits from fraud and theft.
“We are seeing an unfortunate increase in the usage of skimming devices and card cloning across the nation, including in Oklahoma, and want to encourage all Oklahomans, not just SNAP recipients, to use precautionary measures when making transactions,” said Mike Adams, Law Enforcement Agent V, Oklahoma Human Services Office of Inspector General. “We encourage our clients to take swift action to secure their accounts before their November benefits are issued.”
In a typical month, Oklahoma Human Services sees less than 200 requests for replacement of benefits due to skimming, cloning or phishing. However, in the past month, the agency has received nearly 10,000 requests for replacement. We want to enable our clients to protect their benefits so they don’t fall prey to criminals.
While we work with our local, state, and federal partners to apprehend and prosecute bad actors who are stealing from various cardholders, including our clients, we continue to urge individuals to remain vigilant in protecting their benefit cards just as they would debit or credit cards.
Card safety tips include:
- Never share your card information or give your card to someone else.
- Choose PINs that are hard to guess and never use PINs like 1111, 1234, etc. If you have an easy to guess PIN, change it immediately by calling 1-888-328-6551 or visiting connectebt.com.
- Download the ConnectEBT app on your Android or Smartphone device. This app allows you to view your available SNAP benefits, lock your SNAP card between purchases, change your PIN, and monitor transactions to ensure that your SNAP benefits have not been stolen. Learn more about ConnectEBT below.
- Lock your SNAP card between purchases using the ConnectEBT app to ensure you have access to your card only when you need it.
- Never respond to text messages or phone calls asking for your card information. These are scams! Oklahoma Human Services will NEVER call or text you and ask for your Social Security number or PIN or tell you your card has been “locked” or “placed on hold.”
- Check the card readers at the checkout counter to ensure they haven’t been tampered with. Use mobile SNAP payments, where available, to reduce the risk for skimming and other fraud.
Oklahoma Human Services is also on track to launch chip-enabled cards next summer to increase the level of security for our cardholders. More information on chip cards will be made available as we get closer to launch.
The ConnectEBT app can be downloaded on any smart phone device and can also be accessed online at ConnectEBT.com. For assistance logging into your ConnectEBT account, call OKDHSLive at (405) 522-5050.
Current SNAP recipients who have lost benefits due to fraud can apply for stolen benefit replacement through Dec. 20, 2024. Claims can be submitted in the following ways:
- by phone at 405-522-5050
- in-person at a Human Services Center, or
- by mail to Oklahoma Human Services, SNAP, PO Box 25352, Oklahoma City, OK 73125
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