(NEXSTAR) — The fast-approaching SNAP benefit freeze could leave millions of Americans vulnerable to scammers, officials and experts are warning.
More than 40 million people, many of them children, are preparing for food assistance to dry up on Nov. 1. The federal government says it will not be reloading Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program benefits in November as long as the government shutdown continues.
That leaves an opening for scammers to take advantage of people who are more desperate than usual to unlock or reload their benefits, explains Clayton LiaBraaten, senior adviser with scam protection app TrueCaller.
„Right now, during the government shutdown, they’re preying on people’s fear of losing their benefits to gain access to this information,“ LiaBraaten says.
The scammers usually impersonate SNAP representatives and ask for personal information in order to unblock or unlock EBT cards. Sometimes they say a recipient’s eligibility needs to be verified. They often ask for PIN numbers and EBT card numbers over the phone.
They can use the information they receive to drain victims’ remaining SNAP balances or commit identity theft.
There are several red flags you can look for to avoid getting scammed out of your SNAP benefits, LiaBraaten says. First off, you should be wary of any unsolicited communication by phone or text.
„Official SNAP representatives will not contact you out of the blue. If you did not initiate the contact, be cautious,“ he says.
You should also be wary any time you’re being pressured to act quickly. „Scammers are social psychologists and will use high-pressure tactics to create a false sense of urgency, like claiming that your benefits are about to expire or that immediate action is needed to secure your benefits. This urgency is designed to cloud your judgment and get you to share personal details.“
If you get a text or call about your SNAP benefits that you’re not sure is legitimate, LiaBraaten advises to take a pause before engaging. Instead, call the official SNAP hotline for your state or county and get help that way.
What happens to SNAP benefits after Nov. 1?
The U.S. Department of Agriculture has said the federal government will not be sending out November food assistance as the government shutdown continues.
SNAP is funded by the federal government but administered by states. The USDA’s shutdown contingency plan allows the agency to tap into reserve funding to keep SNAP operating if the federal government remains shut for longer than a month. However, the Trump administration said it would not do that.
Each U.S. state is reacting to the news differently. While some are tapping into emergency funds to keep benefits flowing, others are directing residents to seek out help from food banks and charities.
While new funds may not be added, EBT cards will still work in November. Unused benefits from prior months will roll over and the remaining balance will still be accessible after Nov. 1.
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