To report EBT fraud, call the customer service number on the back of your EBT card if your benefits were stolen, contact your state’s SNAP or human services agency if you’re reporting a recipient who misused benefits, or call the USDA Office of Inspector General at (800) 424-9121 for large-scale fraud involving retailers, multiple states, or program employees. The right channel depends on what happened and who was involved, and the relief available to you depends on when the theft occurred.
Where to Report, Based on What Happened
Your Card or Benefits Were Stolen
Call the EBT customer service number on the back of your card immediately. The representative can freeze the compromised card, issue a new one, and begin documenting the theft. Every hour the card stays active is another chance for the thief to make transactions, so speed matters. Most states also let you file a report through the Department of Human Services or social services website.
File a report with local law enforcement as well. A police report creates an official record of the theft, strengthens any replacement claim you file, and may be required by your state agency. Keep the report number.
You’re Reporting Someone Else
State agencies handle investigations of individual recipients and households who misuse benefits, including application fraud and trafficking by cardholders. Contact your state’s SNAP or human services agency directly. Most states offer an anonymous fraud tip line or an online form.
For larger-scale fraud, the USDA Office of Inspector General is the right channel. That includes criminal activity involving retailers, fraud spanning multiple states, large-scale mismanagement of program funds, and misconduct by state or federal employees. You can report anonymously by calling (800) 424-9121, submitting a tip through the OIG’s online hotline, or writing to USDA Office of Inspector General, PO Box 23399, Washington, DC 20026-3399.1Food and Nutrition Service. Report Nutrition Program Fraud
What to Gather Before You Report
The strength of your report depends on specifics. Pull together as much of the following as you can before you call or file:
- Dates and times of unauthorized transactions, or when you first noticed a balance discrepancy.
- Transaction amounts, listed individually. Your EBT account statement or the ebtEDGE app has the detail.
- Locations of the transactions. Records usually include merchant names.
- Your EBT card number, so the agency can pull transaction records on their end.
- Evidence of phishing. If someone contacted you by phone or text, save the messages and the phone number. Screenshots are more useful than descriptions.
- Descriptions of suspects, if you witnessed trafficking or know who is involved: names, physical descriptions, and identifying details about the location.
When reporting to the USDA OIG, include context about why you believe fraud occurred, along with any receipts, screenshots, or photos that support your claim. Evidence is helpful but not required to file a report.1Food and Nutrition Service. Report Nutrition Program Fraud
What Happens After You File
The agency assigns your case for review. Investigators cross-reference your report against transaction records, looking for patterns like purchases in locations you’ve never visited or a burst of transactions inside a short window. You may be contacted for additional details. Timelines vary with case complexity and caseload, but expect the initial review to take several weeks at minimum.
For skimming and phishing cases, investigators often find clusters of victims tied to the same compromised terminal or phishing campaign, and identifying that pattern can accelerate individual cases. If you reported retailer trafficking, the USDA may audit the store’s transaction records before taking action.
Your state will issue a new EBT card with a new number once you report the old one compromised. New cards typically arrive by mail within a few days to two weeks. Some states charge a small replacement fee, though this is often waived when the replacement is due to fraud or theft. Ask your caseworker whether you can pick up a temporary card from a local office in the meantime.
Whether You Can Get Stolen Benefits Replaced
This is the part of the answer that has changed. In late 2022, Congress passed a law allowing states to replace SNAP benefits stolen through card skimming, cloning, and similar electronic methods using federal funds. That authority originally covered thefts occurring between October 1, 2022, and September 30, 2024, and was later extended through December 20, 2024.2Food and Nutrition Service. Replacement of SNAP Benefits in the Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2023 As of 2026, that federal authority has expired and has not been renewed. Benefits stolen after December 20, 2024, are not eligible for replacement through the federal program.
While the federal program was active, replacement was capped at the lesser of the actual amount stolen or two months of the household’s most recent monthly allotment. Households could receive replacement benefits no more than twice per federal fiscal year, and requests had to be filed within 30 days of discovering the theft.2Food and Nutrition Service. Replacement of SNAP Benefits in the Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2023
Some states may still offer replacement using their own funds. Check with your state’s SNAP agency to find out whether a state-level program exists. Regardless of replacement eligibility, reporting stolen benefits promptly still matters. It documents the theft, protects you from being held responsible for the missing funds, and feeds investigations that may catch the people responsible.
If Your Replacement Claim Is Denied
If your state denies your request for replacement benefits, you have the right to request a fair hearing. Federal regulations give you 90 days from the date of the agency’s action to file that request.3eCFR. 7 CFR 273.15 – Fair Hearings Your state must inform you in writing of your right to a hearing and explain how to request one. You can present your case yourself or bring a representative, including a lawyer, relative, or friend. If free legal representation is available in your area, your state is required to tell you about it.
Protect the Card While You Still Have Benefits on It
With federal replacement funding lapsed, prevention carries more weight than it used to. Before swiping your card at any terminal, check the card reader. If it feels loose, looks off-center, or any part of it wiggles, don’t use it and alert the store manager. Skimming devices are often attached over the real reader and can usually be spotted by touch.4Federal Trade Commission. Protect Your SNAP Benefits From Illegal Card Skimmers Cover the keypad with your hand when entering your PIN, even if nobody seems to be watching. Hidden cameras are commonly paired with skimmers.
Many states now offer an EBT card lock feature through the ebtEDGE mobile app or a similar state-provided app. Locking the card when you’re not actively shopping blocks all purchases, balance inquiries, and transactions; you unlock it at the register and lock it again after checkout. Some apps also let you block out-of-state transactions, which stops criminals who clone your card and use it elsewhere. If your state offers this feature, use it.
Never share your PIN, and ignore any text, email, or phone call asking for your card number or PIN. Your state benefits agency will never ask for your PIN by phone or text. If you receive a message claiming your card has been deactivated, call the number on the back of your card directly rather than responding.
Check your balance regularly. The sooner you spot unauthorized transactions, the faster you can freeze the card and file a report. Waiting even a few days gives thieves more time to drain the account and makes recovery harder.