Pennsylvania Department of Human Services warns of text message scam seeking to steal personal data
The Pennsylvania Department of Human Services (DHS) has issued an urgent warning about a scam affecting millions of residents in Pennsylvania, New Jersey and Delaware who receive Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits and use EBT cards. Scammers have begun sending text messages to these individuals, claiming that their EBT card has been deactivated and asking them to call a bogus number to resolve the problem.
“If someone claims to be part of the Department or affiliated with the Department and asks for your personal information, it is a scam,” stated Dr. Val Arkoosh, Pennsylvania DHS Secretary. Dr. Arkoosh clarified that DHS will never solicit personal information through unsolicited text messages, emails or calls.
To help beneficiaries identify bogus messages, DHS reminded that it will never ask for sensitive information such as:
- Specific benefit details, such as the amount of SNAP authorized.
- Personal information or links to unofficial websites (legitimate DHS messages only refer to .gov or .org sites).
- Official Pennsylvania DHS communication with SNAP or Medicaid individuals always comes from the number: 1-833-648-1964.
For any suspicions, DHS has made several lines available to recipients to confirm the legitimacy of communications:
- NJ Food Stamp Fraud Hotline: 1-800-792-9773, option 5.
- Delaware SNAP Outreach Line: 302-292-1305.
- Pennsylvania DHS Office of Income Maintenance, with specific contacts by county.
Officials urge residents to remain vigilant and protect their personal information from these types of scams, which seek to prey on the most vulnerable.