SC Social Services is sounding the alarm about SNAP benefit fraud

GREENVILLE, SC (FOX Carolina) – South Carolina Department of Social Services (DSS) officials have issued a warning about potential fraud affecting SNAP benefits across the state. Thieves are targeting these recipients and could wipe out EBT cards, taking advantage of more than 277,000 South Carolina households.

Since August, DSS officials confirm they have investigated 3,474 reports of fraud. Connelly-Anne Rageley, chief external affairs officer at DSS points out that the problem isn’t just happening in South Carolina.

“The scammers are out there. They are relentless. They will do anything to get ahead. They are thieves and have no ethics or compassion for a struggling family or a single mother or father trying to raise their family,” Ragley said. “They don’t care. They are there to steal and harm and it doesn’t matter to them who is affected by it. While we can’t prevent all crimes, we want you to have the tools and resources and reminders to try to make sure you’re not a victim of this electronic theft.”

Those thieves can target those cards either through skimmers, card cloning, or other electronic theft. Officials warn that most theft cases can happen without the victim knowing.

“It’s not cases where someone takes a card out of someone’s wallet and goes and uses it themselves. This is electronic theft, meaning things like skimming, phishing, smishing and all the different unfortunate tools that thieves use to steal these benefits from the families that really need them the most,” Ragley said.

Ragley says the most important thing South Carolinians receiving benefits can do to protect themselves is to make sure they monitor their accounts regularly through the state-approved mobile app.

“We really want to reassure people and really reinforce that the only official app that the South Carolina Department of Social Services recommends for managing your EBT card and SNAP benefits is the Connect EBT app,” Ragley said. “This is the official app we use and is authorized by DSS. I know if you go to an app store for your Android or Apple phone, there are tons of apps out there. We can’t verify that those apps aren’t stealing your information and deleting your electronic benefits card.”

Anyone who believes their benefits have been stolen is encouraged to report immediately to request a replacement of the funds. SNAP customers who believe their benefits have been stolen electronically should immediately report the loss to local law enforcement, and recipients should call the 24-hour customer service line at 1-800-554-5268 for cancel their EBT card and protect their benefits. .

Victims must also complete a loss affidavit and submit it to their county DSS office.