EBT Food Assistance Phishing Scams by SMS
Text messages impersonating state EBT or SNAP food assistance programs claim a card is suspended or funds are pending, tricking recipients into entering their card number and PIN on a fake site.
Part of: EBT Food Assistance Phishing Scam
Last reviewed: 5 July 2026
Electronic Benefit Transfer (EBT) cards used for SNAP food assistance are a frequent SMS phishing target because a text feels immediate and personal, and because losing access to food assistance is a genuinely urgent concern that pushes recipients to act before thinking it through. A short, alarming text about a suspended card or pending funds is often enough to prompt an anxious click.
How this scam works on SMS
A text message arrives claiming to be from the state EBT or SNAP program, stating that the recipient's card has been locked, that suspicious activity was detected, or that additional benefits are pending release, with a link to a website that closely mimics the real state benefits portal. The fake site asks for the full EBT card number, PIN, and sometimes a Social Security number to 'verify' the account, information which is then used to clone the card or drain existing benefit balances directly at retailers.
Because EBT card skimming and card-cloning fraud has been widespread, some of these texts specifically claim to be a security notice following 'detected skimming' on the recipient's card, exploiting real, well-publicized fraud concerns to make the fake warning feel more credible and prompt an immediate PIN reset through the scammer's fake link rather than the real state portal.
Common red flags
- An unsolicited text claiming your EBT card is locked, suspended, or has detected suspicious activity
- A link that leads to a page asking for your full EBT card number and PIN together
- URLs that resemble but do not exactly match your state's official EBT or SNAP benefits website
- Urgency claiming your benefits will be lost or delayed unless you act immediately
- Requests for a Social Security number to 'verify' an EBT account by text
- Messages arriving outside your state agency's typical communication channels for your account
How to protect yourself
- Never enter your EBT card number and PIN together on a website reached through a text message link
- Contact your state's EBT customer service number, printed on the back of your card, to verify any claimed issue
- Access your EBT account balance only through the official state portal or number, typed in directly, not via text links
- Change your PIN only through the official EBT customer service line or verified app, not a linked site
- Report suspicious texts to your state agency and delete them without clicking any links
- Monitor your EBT balance and transaction history regularly for unauthorized purchases
How to report it
- Forward the suspicious text to 7726 (SPAM) to report it to your mobile carrier
- Report to your state's SNAP or EBT fraud hotline, listed on the back of your card or the state agency website
- Report to the FTC at reportfraud.ftc.gov if you are in the US
- Report suspected card skimming or unauthorized transactions to your state agency immediately to request a card replacement
Frequently asked questions
Can my state EBT program text me about my card?
Some states do send account texts, but never ones asking you to enter your full card number and PIN on an external website, always verify by calling the number on the back of your card.
What should I do if I entered my EBT details on a suspicious site?
Call your state EBT customer service line immediately to change your PIN and request a new card, and monitor your balance closely for unauthorized transactions.