The victims of the EBT card skimming thefts will not be paid back the stolen money due to Congress not reauthorizing money for stolen funds.
In 2024, the stolen EBT fund balance needed to be reauthorized by Congress, but they never came to fruition.
In a statement from the Pennsylvania Department of Human Services (DHS), they are aware of the problem and advise that these scams often happen over weeks.
DHS advises to switch your pin every time you use your card, lock the account when you are not using it, and report any thefts that happen to local law enforcement.
Rick Berry, a resident at the Terrance Apartments, lost $287 in stolen funds and is worried about how things will get in a month. There were a number of other residents in the Terrace apartments that also lost their EBT funds.
“Thieves will spend weeks or months collecting EBT card information (like a PIN) and wait to strike until after regular benefits are paid at the beginning of the month so as to maximize the amount of money they can steal.”
