The City of Petersburg announced on May 8 that there has been a significant increase in theft involving Electronic Benefit Transfer (EBT) Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits. Officials said most, if not all, electronic benefit theft could be prevented if SNAP recipients lock their cards after each use.
This announcement matters because many residents rely on SNAP benefits for essential food purchases. Preventing fraud is crucial to ensure that those in need receive the assistance intended for them and are not left without support due to stolen funds.
“We have seen a significant increase in EBT SNAP benefit theft. The majority, if not all, of this type of electronic benefit theft can be stopped if SNAP recipients lock their cards after each use. We strongly encourage SNAP recipients to keep their cards locked until they are making a purchase and then re-lock it. See the following flyer for more information. Thank you,” city officials said.
The city’s statement highlights the importance of using the Lock/Unlock feature available on EBT cards as an effective way to combat fraud attempts targeting public assistance programs.
Officials advise residents who use EBT/SNAP benefits to remain vigilant and adopt secure practices such as locking their cards when not making purchases. This measure is presented as a simple yet effective step toward reducing incidents of unauthorized transactions and protecting public resources.
