Guard Your Card

Hamilton County Job and Family Services urges individuals receiving Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) to Guard Your Card to protect those benefits.

SNAP recipients have been victims of fraud schemes, such as skimming, to steal EBT card numbers. Skimming is when a fraudulent device is placed over a point-of-sale card reader to steal payment card information. When a recipient swipes their card over a compromised device, they are unsuspectingly sharing their card information with criminals.

Tips to avoid becoming a victim

• Manage your benefits through the secure ConnectEBT app on your mobile phone or tablet.
• Block in-person transactions at out-of-state retail locations.
• Enable feature that requires users to unlock EBT prior to making any purchases.
• Create a PIN for your card that is unique and difficult to guess. When using your card, cover the keypad to stop others from seeing your PIN.
• Change your PIN monthly, before each scheduled deposit.
• Never share your card number or PIN. The Ohio Department of Job and Family Services will never ask for these numbers.
• Carefully examine point-of-sale card readers before using them to check for skimming devices. Pull at keypad edges before swiping to ensure there is nothing over the reader.
• Do not use a card reader if you notice anything unusual and notify store staff if you notice anything suspicious with the card reader.

SNAP is a federal food assistance program of the USDA’s Food and Nutrition Services (FNS) overseen in Ohio by ODJFS and administered by county departments of Job and Family Services. Individuals rely on these food benefits to supplement monthly grocery costs.