LAKE COUNTY, Calif. — In June and July, the Lake County District Attorney’s Office Welfare Fraud Investigation Unit received multiple reports of CalFresh, or SNAP, and CalWORKs EBT card skimming.
The number of reports were unprecedented, as Lake County had not seen a significant amount of EBT skimming in previous months, officials said.
District Attorney Susan Krones said her welfare fraud investigators recognized this to be part of large scale criminal activity that has affected millions of individuals and families nationwide, who depend on these benefits for food and shelter.
During the last week of June, welfare fraud Investigators began going to Lake County’s grocery and retail stores to check for skimmers on point-of-sale card readers, and to show store employees how to identify skimming devices.
One of these contacts resulted in the discovery and removal of two skimming devices; another contact resulted in the recovery of a skimming device which had been previously discovered and removed by store personnel.
EBT skimming is a type of theft that involves placing a device on a point-of-sale card reader to collect card information and pin numbers.
Once placed, the devices can be difficult to detect. The thieves then use the stolen data to clone the EBT cards and use them to purchase food or withdraw cash from ATMs.
Card skimming can also happen to people using the magnetic stripe to make purchases with their credit, debit or gift cards.
Chip readers and contactless (tap) technology is much more difficult to skim and requires more sophisticated equipment.
Since EBT cards do not currently utilize advanced security technology they are a prime target.
Although July saw fewer skimming victims, Krones said investigators believe Lake County can get back to $0 skimming loss with the help of the community.
The Lake County District Attorney’s Office along with Lake County Department of Social Services and California Department of Social Services are proactive and committed to combat skimming in Lake County.
Investigators will continue to inspect point-of-sale locations for skimmers and EBT accounts will be monitored for unusual activity so EBT cards can be replaced, and clients notified before benefits are stolen.
Listed below are things you can do to protect yourself from skimming.
Community members can help by watching for and reporting any suspicious activity or skimming devices on a retailers point of sale card reader to the store manager and to Lake County District Attorney’s Office Welfare Fraud hotline 707-995-4302.
If you believe there is a skimmer on a point of sale terminal, do not use the terminal and notify a store employee immediately.
Do not try to remove the skimmer yourself or intervene if you observe someone placing a skimmer.
CalFresh and CalWORKs program recipients or anyone with a magnetic stripe credit/debit card can protect themselves by:
• Avoid the use of simple PIN numbers, keep your PIN number secret, and change your PIN number frequently.
• Beware of phishing such as texts, emails or phone call requesting your EBT information or saying your account is frozen. Social Services will never call, text or email you with a request for your card and PIN number.
• Change your pin number often so if you card is compromised, thieves will not have your current pin number. At a minimum, change your PIN each month the day before your benefits are issued. Changing your PIN is the most effective thing you can do to protect yourself from skimming.
• Check your account regularly for charges, activity or balance inquiries you did not make.
If you believe you are the victim of skimming and your CalFresh or CalWORKs benefits were stolen, contact the Lake County Social Services office at 707-995-4200 or by going to 15975 Anderson Ranch Pkwy in Lower Lake.
Additionally, Welfare Fraud Division investigators encourage anyone who is a victim of skimming to file a police report, though this is not required.
District Attorney’s Office issues update on SNAP and CalWORKS card skimming
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