Delaware EBT Card Scam: $619,000 in Stolen Benefits Authorities Investigate Organized Financial Crime-Beware!
According to Cbsnews Julie Ebeling fought back tears on Monday morning after discovering that her EBT card had been emptied. She learned of the theft when she attempted to pay for groceries last week.
“I’m in tears. There’s nothing else I can say. Someone literally just stole all my food for the month,” Ebeling lamented. “It was horrible. People behind me offered to pay, and while I appreciated it, I felt embarrassed.”
The Sussex County, Delaware resident explained that just days before she was due to receive $274 in monthly food stamps, she received a call asking her to verify her account information. Concerned about losing her benefits, she called back and provided her account number and PIN.
“The call claimed to be from the Social Services of Delaware, asking to confirm my identity for food stamps… It sounded completely legitimate,” Ebeling said. “But it wasn’t.”
Ebeling, 57, immediately went to her local social services office and filed a police report. She discovered that her card and benefits had been used in New York City, a place she hasn’t visited in over 15 years.
Nearly a week later, Ebeling is still waiting for a new card to arrive in the mail, which she was told would have her replacement benefits.
“I’m without food and without my card – I feel exposed,” Ebeling said.
When contacted for comment, no one from the Delaware Department of Health and Social Services (DHSS) was available for an interview by CBS News Philadelphia’s deadline. However, a spokesperson acknowledged the phone scam and emphasized that the agency “will never contact clients to request” EBT card numbers or PINs.
The spokesperson also mentioned that since DHSS began replacing benefits on December 1, 2023, they’ve received 1,500 reports of stolen benefits, with about 1,470 cases resolved. Typically, it takes 10 business days to replace benefits, but due to “spikes in fraud reporting,” it could take longer.
In 2024 alone, DHSS has replaced approximately $619,000 in stolen SNAP benefits.
U.S. Secret Service Investigation
On July 9, CBS News Philadelphia spoke with Michael Centrella, the special agent in charge at the U.S. Secret Service’s Philadelphia field office.
“This is part of a criminal organization we call transnational organized crime, which originates from Eastern Europe,” Centrella explained.
The Secret Service is responsible for investigating financial crimes, including EBT fraud. Throughout CBS News Philadelphia’s investigation, they highlighted the Secret Service’s efforts to combat EBT fraud as part of a broader fight against transnational organized crime.
“In 2022, financial crimes across the United States resulted in losses of about $10 billion. Skimming alone accounted for about $1 billion, with Pennsylvania contributing around $250 million to that total,” Centrella said.
The Secret Service has observed an increase in “point-of-sale” fraud—where retail transactions occur—and “ATM skimming-related activity” over the past 18 to 24 months.
While card skimming is a common method used in EBT fraud, Centrella identified the phone scam Ebeling experienced as a phishing scam.
“The scams themselves haven’t changed much. However, some techniques and the targeting of victims have evolved. As financial crimes adapt to improvements in credit card and financial system security, so do the criminals,” Centrella said.
He noted that EBT cards are easy targets because they lack additional security features like microchips. The Secret Service is working with lawmakers to implement chip cards for those relying on public assistance.
