COLUMBIA, S.C. — The South Carolina Department of Social Services wants you to know about a phishing scam involving texts claiming EBT benefit cards are locked. The text asks SNAP recipients to contact a 1-888- number and provide the client’s EBT card number to unlock the benefits.
This is a scam -- DSS says the agency will never text you about locking a card and ask for your EBT card number.
If you get a message like this -- ignore it and delete it.
DSS passes along these additional steps you can take to protect yourself from potential fraud:
- Do not give your EBT card to non-authorized household members.
- Do not provide your EBT card number or PIN number to anyone outside your SNAP household, as this would give an individual access to your benefits.
- Your EBT card cannot be accessed without a PIN; Change your PIN often. You can do that today by calling the number on the back of your EBT card or through the EBT website.
- Routinely check the balance of your EBT card to ensure that there have been no unauthorized purchases. If you wish to check your balance online, make sure you are using Connect EBT which is supported by South Carolina’s EBT vendor, Conduent. You can register and create a client portal account on connectebt.com, or download the ConnectEBT mobile app on your iPhone or Android phone.
To report suspicious activity or SNAP fraud, the public is encouraged to make a report to the USDA Office of the Inspector General at 1-800-424-9121 or online here.