INDIANA – The Indiana Family and Social Services Administration (FSSA) announced it will no longer refund Hoosiers whose food benefits are stolen from their Electronic Benefit Transfer (EBT) cards. This change comes as the state grapples with a rise in skimming and cloning incidents, particularly in Central Indiana.
From October 2023 through September 2024, the FSSA refunded $3.5 million worth of stolen benefits to those affected by these fraudulent activities. However, the state has shifted its focus to preventing future incidents and helping individuals safeguard their benefits.
To address the growing concerns about SNAP (Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program) fraud, the FSSA has ramped up efforts to educate the public. Resources are now available to Hoosiers, offering tips on protecting their EBT cards and reporting stolen benefits. These materials include an educational video, step-by-step guides, FAQs, and outreach materials that can be shared to raise community awareness.
Additionally, the FSSA is working closely with federal partners, SNAP retailers, EBT processors, and other industry experts to enhance the security of food assistance programs and combat the ongoing issue of fraud.
While the state will no longer reimburse for stolen benefits, these resources aim to empower Hoosiers to take proactive measures to secure their cards and avoid becoming victims of fraud.
EBT Card Lock is now available to prevent unauthorized use of EBT Cards
How to lock your EBT card
As an added protection, SNAP Benefit members can now lock and unlock their EBT cards if they believe they are at risk of having their benefits stolen via card skimming, card cloning, and other similar methods. To lock and unlock your card please follow the steps below:
- To lock and unlock your card:
- Go to https://www.connectebt.com/inebtclient/
- Create an account if you do not have one, OR, login with your user ID and Password
- Click on “Lock/Unlock” within the portal
- To lock your card, select “lock my card everywhere,” then click SUBMIT
- To unlock your card, select “unlock my card,” then click SUBMIT
SNAP participant tips and resources
- Avoid simple PINs. Number combinations such as 1111, 1234, or 9876 may be easy for others to guess.
- Keep your PIN and card number secret. Do not share your PIN or card number with anyone outside your household. Cover the keypad when you enter your PIN on a machine.
- Beware of phishing. State agencies and EBT processors will never call or text to ask for your PIN or card number. Do not respond to calls or text messages requesting EBT card numbers or PIN, etc.
- Change your PIN often. Consider changing your PIN immediately after every use.
- Check your EBT account regularly for unauthorized charges. If you see any, change your PIN right away to stop the thief from making a new purchase. Please report if your benefits have been stolen via skimming, cloning, etc. to 317-234-7989.
For more information, Hoosiers can visit the FSSA’s website to access these resources and learn more about how to protect their benefits.
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