LITTLE ROCK – The Arkansas Department of Human Services (DHS) will require all Summer EBT (SEBT) recipients to reset the PIN numbers associated with their cards in response to reports of thefts of these benefits from out-of-state scammers.
Eligible families should reset their PINs through the EBT call line at 1-800-997-9999 or through the online portal linked at ar.gov/summerebt effective immediately. The cards will not work until this additional step has been completed in order to prevent additional fraudulent activity.
“Stealing benefits meant to feed children during the summer is a despicable and heinous crime, and the Arkansas Department of Human Services (DHS) is outraged that some families in our state have been victimized,” said DHS Secretary Janet Mann. “We know that resetting the PIN may present an inconvenience to families, but this is a necessary step to thwart ongoing…
This remains the most prevalent form of financial crime globally. It targets the direct access points to your money: your cards and your bank accounts.
- Skimming: Criminals use small devices called “skimmers” placed over ATM or point-of-sale card slots to capture the data from your card’s magnetic strip.
- Card-Not-Present (CNP) Fraud: This occurs during online shopping where a physical card isn’t required. Thieves use stolen card numbers, expiry dates, and CVV codes to make unauthorized purchases.
- Account Takeover (ATO): A hacker gains access to your online banking credentials (often through malware or phishing) and changes the contact details or passwords, locking you out while they drain your funds.