Starting May 22, the Oregon Department of Human Services (ODHS) will begin replacing food benefits for those who have had their Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits stolen electronically, including card skimming and card cloning.
Oregon Department of Human Services to replace SNAP benefits stolen electronically
ODHS will replace benefits stolen on or after Oct. 1, 2022, thanks to the Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2023. Victims whose SNAP benefits were stolen should request a replacement immediately, and those who know their SNAP benefits were stolen between Oct. 1, 2022, and May 22, 2023, must request replacement benefits by June 21, 2023.
However, ODHS cannot replace benefits stolen before Oct. 1, 2022. Those who discover their SNAP benefits were stolen after May 22 will have 30 days to request replacement benefits from the date of discovery.
The ODHS is encouraging people to take steps to protect their benefits, including freezing their card immediately after each use and unfreezing it before making purchases, blocking purchases made outside of Oregon and online purchases, keeping their PIN secret, and checking their EBT account regularly for unauthorized charges.
If you notice any unauthorized charges, you should cancel your card immediately by calling the 24-hour toll-free customer service line
Outside of business hours, cancel your card at 1-888-997-4447, and during business hours, call the toll-free replacement card line at 1-855-328-6715 to order a replacement card.
In addition, people should check card reading machines to ensure nothing suspicious is overlaid or attached to the card swiper or keypad, as scammers sometimes use text messages to obtain EBT card numbers and PINs, stealing SNAP benefits through phishing scams. ODHS will never send a text message to request your information, so do not provide your EBT card number or PIN by phone or text.
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