O.C. EBT card recipients warned of online scams

Orange County, Calif. (April 29, 2022) — The County of Orange Social Services Agency (SSA) is warning clients who possess an Electronic Benefit Transfer (EBT) card to be on the lookout for potential scammers trying to obtain confidential client information in order to commit fraud through fake websites.

EBT cardholders should be aware their accounts can only be accessed and viewed at www.ebt.ca.gov/cardholder. Counterfeit websites that look similar to the state’s EBT website attempt to obtain personal information, including but not limited to an EBT card number and/or personal identification number (PIN), Social Security number, bank information and/or date of birth. Please be advised this information may be used to withdraw funds from recipient accounts.

Clients are advised NOT to give out their personal information. Please remember that SSA will never ask for your personal information in a text message or via email.

If you are unsure if a request for information is legitimate, please contact the SSA call center to confirm the request at (800) 281-9799 or contact your assigned case worker if you have one.

If you have provided your personal information through text message, email or other suspicious means, it is recommended you change your PIN and report your EBT card as lost or stolen by calling:

• The state’s EBT Customer Service 24 hours a day, seven days a week at (877) 328-9677, or
• The SSA call center from 6:30 a.m. to 8 p.m. Monday through Friday and 7 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Saturdays.
• You may also wish to file a report with your local police department.