Just Harvest: SNAP Users Should Be Proactive in Protecting Benefits from Scams

Just Harvest - an Allegheny County organization that addresses economic injustice through a focus on public policy and food access - is encouraging residents who use SNAP to be proactive in protecting their benefits. 

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The organization pointed out that Congress has failed to extend a provision that protects SNAP users from skimming, during which SNAP benefits are stolen off EBT cards at point-of-sale machines. As a result, any SNAP benefits stolen will no longer be replaced.

 Those whose benefits have been stolen should report the theft to their local County Assistance Office and request a new EBT card. Once they have obtained a new EBT card, they should routinely change their PIN number.

DHS Text Alert

Pennsylvania’s Department of Human Services has announced plans for an upcoming text alert that warns residents of recent nationwide increases of Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) fraud. 

The department said the text alert would warn residents about incidents of card skimming. The text will come from the number 833-648-1964.

The department also warns that DHS text messages would never include:

• Details about a person’s benefits, such as the amount of SNAP they are authorized to receive

• A request for personal information

• Links to unofficial sites; most texts will direct people to dhs.pa.gov, COMPASS, or a site that ends in .gov or .org.