SCAM ALERT: EBT Card Fraud
Norfolk Department of Human Services and the Virginia Department of Social Services have received reports of fake text messages, phone calls, and card?skimming aimed at EBT cardholders across Virginia.
Scammers are pretending to be EBT customer service, the Virginia Department of Social Services, or other government agencies.
They may claim:
- Your EBT card is locked or suspended
- There is suspicious activity on your account
- You must “verify” your card number or PIN right away
- You must click a link to avoid losing benefits
These messages are not real. Do not share your personal information, EBT card number, or PIN. Do not click any links or call the numbers in these messages.
Officials are also seeing more cases of EBT card skimming, where criminals use devices to steal card information and take benefits without permission.
Residents are encouraged to use the ConnectEBT…
CLICK HERE to read the FULL SCAM ALERT: EBT Card Fraud – Norfolk.gov article.
Identity theft is the “foundational” fraud upon which many other crimes are built. It involves the unauthorized acquisition and use of a person’s personal identifying information (PII), such as an ID number, Social Security number, or passport details.
- How it works: Fraudsters obtain PII through data breaches, mail theft, or “social engineering” (tricking people into revealing details). Once they have this data, they can open new bank accounts, apply for credit cards or loans, and even receive medical treatment under your name.
- Synthetic Identity Fraud: A sophisticated variation where criminals combine real and fabricated information to create a completely new, “synthetic” person. This is particularly difficult to detect because there is no single victim to report the suspicious activity initially.