Nevada County agencies issue warning amid rise in credit, EBT card scams
IS EXPECTED TO SURVIVE. AND THERE’S A WARNING TONIGHT COMING OUT OF NEVADA COUNTY, WHERE EBT CARDS ARE BEING SKIMMED AND THEN DRAINED BY THIEVES. LISA GONZALES SHARES THE CONCERNS BEING RAISED NOW BY OFFICIALS. TAKE A LOOK AT THIS. THIEVES ARE FINDING WAYS TO SCAM PEOPLE OUT OF THEIR BENEFITS. THEY ARE USING THESE SKIMMING DEVICES DESIGNED TO STEAL CREDIT CARD INFORMATION IN NEVADA COUNTY. THEY HAVE ALREADY SEEN SEVERAL ACCOUNTS COMPROMISED. THESE ARE EXTREMELY SOPHISTICATED DEVICES. YOU KNOW, THESE AREN’T LOCAL, LOW LEVEL THIEVES. THESE ARE SOPHISTICATED, OUT OF COUNTY ORGANIZED CRIME RINGS THAT HAVE THE TECHNOLOGY AND HAVE THE INFRASTRUCTURE TO MAKE THESE DEVICES BARELY UNDETECTED TO THE TO THE COMMON CONSUMER. RIGHT NOW, NEVADA COUNTY IS SEEING A RISE IN CREDIT AND EBT CARDS BEING SCAMMED. IN THE PAST YEAR AND A HALF, THE DEPARTMENT IN CHARGE OF EBT CARDS GOT A REQUEST TO REPLACE 450 CARDS IN THE MONTH OF MAY ALONE, THEY GOT 100 REQUESTS RIGHT NOW, THE DISTRICT ATTORNEY’S OFFICE IS WORKING TO FIND COMMON STORES TO SEE WHERE THE SCAMS ARE HAPPENING. OUR CUSTOMERS ARE DEPENDING ON THESE BENEFITS TO PAY THEIR RENT, TO PAY THEIR UTILITY BILLS. SO THERE’S A LOT OF FEAR OF HOW AM I GOING TO PAY MY RENT THIS MONTH? OR HOW AM I GOING TO CONTINUE TO TO FEED MY FAMILY? UM, THEY’RE EXPRESSING, YOU KNOW, EMBARRASSMENT OF GOING UP TO THE CASH REGISTER WITH YOUR GROCERIES AND THEN BEING DECLINED. UM, AND THEN AND THEN THEY’RE COMING IN TO, TO US TO REPORT THAT. AND, UM, AND WE CAN REPLACE SOME OF THE BENEFITS, BUT WE’RE NOT ALWAYS ABLE TO REPLACE EVERYTHING THAT WAS STOLEN. SO IT REALLY IS A HUGE IMPACT TO, TO OUR FAMILIES AS AN EBT CARD HOLDERS ARE ENCOURAGED TO USE EBT EDGE MOBILE APP. USERS CAN FREEZE THEIR CARD WHEN NOT IN USE. THEY CAN ALSO BLOCK ONLINE AND OUT OF STATE TRANSACTIONS. ALSO, MAKE SURE TO CHANGE YOUR PI
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Nevada County agencies issue warning amid rise in credit, EBT card scams
A sharp rise in scams involving fake credit and EBT card readers in Nevada County has prompted agencies to issue warnings to the public and retailers.The Nevada County District Attorney's Office and Department of Social Services said the fraudulent devices are designed to steal credit card information, and several accounts have already been compromised.The scam particularly targets EBT cards. In the past year and a half, the department in charge of EBT cards received 450 requests to replace cards. But last month alone, the department received 100 of those requests."Our customers are depending on these benefits to pay their rent, to pay their utility bill, there is a lot of fear, 'am I going to be able to pay my rent this month,' or 'how am I going to continue to feed my family?'" said Kristin Plante of Nevada County Employment Services. "They are expressing embarrassment of going up to the cash register with your groceries and being declined, and then they are coming into us to report that. We can replace some of the benefits but we aren't always able to replace everything that was stolen so it really is a huge impact to our families."Nevada County recommends that EBT cardholders protect themselves by using ebtEDGE, a mobile app offering card management features.On the app, you can:Freeze a card when not in useBlock online and out-of-state transactionsChanges PINs regularly for added securityRequest a replacement cardUse device biometrics like touch ID or facial recognition to securely sign in to manage an accountFor other immediate actions, consumers can:Inspect card readers before using themMonitor EBT card activity regularlyReport any suspicious activity Nevada County EBT cardholders can report fraudulent transactions by calling 530-265-1340 and selecting option 8.See more coverage of top California stories here | Download our app.
NEVADA COUNTY, Calif. —
A sharp rise in scams involving fake credit and EBT card readers in Nevada County has prompted agencies to issue warnings to the public and retailers.
The Nevada County District Attorney's Office and Department of Social Services said the fraudulent devices are designed to steal credit card information, and several accounts have already been compromised.
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The scam particularly targets EBT cards.
In the past year and a half, the department in charge of EBT cards received 450 requests to replace cards. But last month alone, the department received 100 of those requests.
"Our customers are depending on these benefits to pay their rent, to pay their utility bill, there is a lot of fear, 'am I going to be able to pay my rent this month,' or 'how am I going to continue to feed my family?'" said Kristin Plante of Nevada County Employment Services. "They are expressing embarrassment of going up to the cash register with your groceries and being declined, and then they are coming into us to report that. We can replace some of the benefits but we aren't always able to replace everything that was stolen so it really is a huge impact to our families."
Nevada County recommends that EBT cardholders protect themselves by using ebtEDGE, a mobile app offering card management features.
On the app, you can:
- Freeze a card when not in use
- Block online and out-of-state transactions
- Changes PINs regularly for added security
- Request a replacement card
- Use device biometrics like touch ID or facial recognition to securely sign in to manage an account
For other immediate actions, consumers can:
- Inspect card readers before using them
- Monitor EBT card activity regularly
- Report any suspicious activity
Nevada County EBT cardholders can report fraudulent transactions by calling 530-265-1340 and selecting option 8.
See more coverage of top California stories here | Download our app.
