Gmork
Add to Chrome

Scam library · Texts · Government impostor · Phone calls

SNAP EBT card scam: 'your food benefits will be locked'

The text looks urgent and official: your SNAP purchase at a grocery store was declined, suspicious activity hit your EBT card, or your food benefits will be locked unless you 'recertify' right now. It may use your state's social-services name and ask you to reply, tap a link, or call a number in the message.

That message is trying to steal the two things that empty an EBT account: the card number and the PIN. In late October 2026, Virginia's social-services department warned residents about fake texts and calls claiming a declined transaction or unusual activity, sometimes mentioning a store such as Walmart.

What the message looks like

Text message · example, not real

From: Short code 555-01 (unknown)

VDSS-EBT: Your SNAP purchase at Walmart was DECLINED and your card is temporarily locked.

Reply YES or call 555-0199 now to verify your EBT card number and PIN and restore your benefits today.

This is a made-up example based on state social-services alerts. Check a real card problem through the official number on the back of the card, not a number that arrives in a surprise text.

How this scam works

Once you call back or type your card number and PIN, the scammer can clone the card or spend the balance. New York social-services offices have reported a related version that pretends you must recertify SNAP over the phone and asks for the same details. Real recertification notices typically arrive by mail, and your EBT card number and PIN are not part of that paperwork.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture has warned for years that phony texts claiming an EBT card is locked, or asking people to 'verify' a SNAP account, are phishing. State agencies and EBT processors will not call or text to collect your PIN. Virginia's social-services department is blunt: you will never be asked to share your EBT card number or PIN, and it does not handle card problems by unexpected text or email.

Red flags

  • An unexpected text or call about a declined SNAP purchase, locked card, or benefits that will be cut off today.
  • A request for your EBT card number, PIN, Social Security number, or login for an EBT app.
  • A link to 'unlock' or 'verify' your benefits, or a callback number that is not printed on your card.
  • Pressure to recertify SNAP immediately by phone or text. Real recertification is not done by handing over your PIN.
  • A message that tells you not to visit your local office or talk with anyone else first.

How to tell it’s fake

  1. Do not reply, tap the link, or call a number that came with the message. Hang up if someone is already on the line.
  2. Turn the card over and call only the customer-service number printed on the back, or contact your local SNAP office using a number you look up yourself.
  3. If you use an official EBT app or website your state recommends, such as ConnectEBT in states that support it, open that app yourself to check recent purchases and your balance.
  4. If the message still feels real — maybe it named a store you shop at — pause and get a second opinion from a family member, your local SNAP office, or a scam expert before you share anything.

What to do if you clicked, paid or shared info

Don’t panic, and don’t blame yourself. These scams are built by professionals. Act quickly, one step at a time.

If you clicked a link or called back

  • If you only opened a text or talked briefly, stop there. Do not enter your card number or PIN. Forward the text to 7726 (SPAM) if your carrier supports it, and tell your local SNAP office what you received.

If you paid

  • If someone spent your benefits after you shared card details, call the official EBT number on the back of your card immediately, ask them to cancel the card and issue a replacement, and choose a new PIN you have never used. Ask your local SNAP office how to report stolen benefits in your state, and report the scam at ReportFraud.ftc.gov.

If you shared personal info, a password or a code

  • Treat a shared PIN like a stolen password: change it at once through the official number on your card, watch the account for purchases you did not make, and tell your local SNAP office. If you also gave a Social Security number or other identity details, visit IdentityTheft.gov.

Where to report and get help (U.S.)

If a message seems legit and you’re still not sure, get a second opinion before you act. Reporting helps stop scammers, even if money can’t be recovered. If you are in danger, call 911.

  • Your bank or card issuer
    Call the number on the back of your card or on your statement, not one from the message. Ask them to stop or reverse the payment and to watch the account.
  • Federal Trade Commission (FTC) · ReportFraud.ftc.gov
    Report the scam and get a step-by-step recovery plan.
  • FBI Internet Crime Complaint Center (IC3) · ic3.gov
    Report scams that happened online, especially if money was lost. Include phone numbers, websites and payment details.
  • AARP Fraud Watch Network Helpline · aarp.org helpline
    Free, for anyone of any age: trained volunteers help you sort out next steps. 877-908-3360, Monday to Friday, 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. Eastern.
  • IdentityTheft.gov · IdentityTheft.gov
    If you shared your Social Security number or someone opened accounts in your name.

How Gmork Scam Guard would warn you

Scam Guard cannot hear a phone call or read a text that never leaves your phone. If a link opens in Chrome or Edge on your computer, it can warn you when a page pretending to be a benefits portal sits on an unofficial address, and it flags pressure to type a card number or PIN. When the note still looks official, check with your local office or a scam expert instead of typing those digits.

Scam Guard can miss things, so the checks above still matter. See what it warns about and what it keeps private.

Add to ChromeAdd to EdgeAdd to FirefoxAdd to Opera

Questions people ask

Will my state text me if an EBT purchase is declined?
A surprise text or call asking you to verify a declined purchase is a common scam. Check the purchase history yourself in your official EBT app or by calling the number printed on your card.
Does SNAP recertification require my EBT card number and PIN?
No. New York social-services offices emphasize that your card number and PIN are not part of your SNAP case file and are never needed to recertify. Notices about recertification typically come by mail.
What should I do if my benefits disappear after a suspicious message?
Call the official number on the back of your card right away to lock or replace it and change the PIN. Then contact your local SNAP office about stolen-benefit reporting in your state, and file a report at ReportFraud.ftc.gov.

Sources

Related scams

Browse the full scam library · Scam-safety guides