The Kansas Department for Children and Families (DCF) is investigating the use of skimming devices in the Kansas City metro area. Thieves placed illegal skimming devices at the businesses to collect purchase EBT card information used at stores, according to a media release from the agency.
The EBT team recently discovered suspicious out-of-state phone numbers calling to complete balance inquiries for multiple EBT cards. This unusual activity prompted the team to further investigate and identify three businesses in common where the EBT cards were used.
The team then took quick action and proactively shut down about 1,000 EBT cards that were identified as being used at these businesses. Skimming devices were subsequently discovered at these businesses. DCF immediately made the stores aware of the devices and encouraged the stores to work with law enforcement.
DCF is working with the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) to investigate the incidents. “Through quick action, DCF prevented the theft of a total of $369,532 in benefits for about 830 cardholders,”said DCF Secretary Laura Howard.
These cardholders will automatically have a replacement card loaded with their benefits mailed to their homes. Their new cards should arrive 5-7 business days after their original card was canceled.
To date, DCF has also identified 162 cardholders whose benefits were stolen through these skimming events with a total of $38,653.90 in benefits stolen.
A federal provision that provided federal funds to replace SNAP and TANF benefits stolen through card skimming, card cloning and other similar methods expired on Dec. 20, 2024. It was not extended with the 2025 American Relief Act. At this time stolen benefits cannot be replaced and there is not state funding available to replace stolen benefits.DCF encourages victims to call United Way 211 by dialing 211 on their phone or visit 211KC.orgif they need help accessing food.
“It’s disheartening that there are people preying on some of the most vulnerable Kansans – children and the elderly – and are stealing the money they depend on to put food on their tables,”Howard said.Protecting cards/benefitsThe illegal use of skimming devices is a growing problem across the country.
All Kansas EBT cardholders are encouraged to use the ebtEDGE app from DCF’s EBT contractor, Fidelity Information Services (FIS), or access the ebtEDGE Cardholder Portal at ebtedge.com to monitor their account and help safeguard their benefits by using the following features:
- Freeze the EBT card when not using it. Cardholders must unfreeze the card when they are ready to make a purchase.
- Block out-of-state and online transactions. Cardholders will have to unblock these transactions when they want to make an out-of-state or online purchase.
- Regularly change the four-digit PIN and use number combinations that are not easy for others to figure out. For example, don’t use birthdays or anniversaries.
Third-party EBT apps do not provide the same protection features as ebtEDGE. The ebtEDGE app can be accessed in the Google Play Store and the Apple App Store.Cardholders are also encouraged to beware of phishing attempts and they should not share their card info or the PIN over the phone or via text message. DCF and FIS will never call or text cardholders and explicitly ask for their card number or PIN.“We encourage all cardholders to utilize the tools available through ebtEDGE to help protect their money from falling into the hands of thieves,”Howard said.The Federal Bureau of Investigation’s skimmingpage provides more information about skimming scams and EBT card skimming.Requesting a new cardIf a Kansas EBT cardholder suspects their card has been compromised, they should immediately report the suspected fraud and request a new card by calling ebtEDGE Customer Service at 1-800-997-6666 or online at ebtedge.com.