PHILADELPHIA (CBS) – More victims are coming forward in the Philadelphia area in a scam targeting low-income families. Money from the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) is disappearing from accounts.
“This is how we eat from month to month,” says Shawntay Broggins.
Broggins is a single mother in Philadelphia raising her 11-year-old daughter Kimiyah.
Broggins, who is on a fixed income, receives SNAP benefits to help her put food on the table. But now she’s worried about her next meal.
“I woke up with a zero balance on my EBT card. What do I do,” she said.
Hundreds of dollars from her electronic benefit transfer (EBT) card disappeared in an instant.
Broggins said she never even used the card, but she said someone else did at stores in New York.
“I’m not from New York. I never left my bed to go to New York,” she said. “I’m trying to figure out how they went to four different stores in the same minute at 9:18 a.m.”
Broggins is one of many people who continue to call our newsroom to tell us their benefits have been stolen.
The state says it is working to get to the bottom of these reports, but right now they believe thieves are using skimming devices to steal the money. The state said it’s happening in Philadelphia and southeastern Pennsylvania.
It also happened to Broggins’ neighbor.
“I’m very concerned,” Ada Hanible said.
Unlike Broggins, Hanible used her card once, but she said more than $200 was gone the next day. She said her bill shows her card number was used in Ohio.
Both Hanible and Broggins believe it is a problem with the EBT system.
“It’s a real government issue and we are being punished, but I don’t think we should be punished,” she said.
They both went to their local welfare agency for help, but will have to file a claim in an attempt to get the money back. It’s a process that can take more than a month, and that’s time they don’t have.
How to Contact Your Provincial Assistance Office
Brandon Cwalina, of the Pennsylvania Department of Human Services, said if you think your benefits have been stolen, you should call your local county assistance office to report the fraud and have your card replaced. A complete list of Pennsylvania’s county offices is available at the link above.
If you are a victim or know a victim, we would like to hear from you. Email us at tips@cbs3.com.
- Inspect POS terminals, ATMs and other card readers before using them. Look for anything that is loose, bent, damaged, or scratched. Do not use a card reader if you notice anything unusual.
- Pull the edges of the keyboard before entering your PIN. Then cover the keypad when entering your PIN to prevent cameras from recording your input.
- Use ATMs in a well-lit, indoor location, as these are less vulnerable targets.
- Be alert for skimming devices in tourist areas, a popular target.
- Use debit and credit cards with chip technology. In the US, there are fewer devices that steal chip data than magnetic stripe data.
- Avoid using your debit card if you have linked accounts. Use a credit card instead.
- If the ATM does not return your card after you end or cancel a transaction, contact your financial institution.
