Working4You: Department of Human Services warns of scammers targeting EBT cardholders
KARK 4 News
[{'start': '0.310', 'end': '4.759', 'text': '[Music]'}, {'start': '2.399', 'end': '7.759', 'text': "It's like, oh my, there there's a real"}, {'start': '4.759', 'end': '10.240', 'text': 'scammer out there somewhere that knows'}, {'start': '7.759', 'end': '12.800', 'text': "what they're doing. Thousands of dollars"}, {'start': '10.240', 'end': '14.400', 'text': 'in SNAP benefits taken in a matter of'}, {'start': '12.800', 'end': '16.320', 'text': 'minutes. The Department of Human'}, {'start': '14.400', 'end': '18.960', 'text': 'Services says our canons with electronic'}, {'start': '16.320', 'end': '20.480', 'text': 'benefit transfer cards or EBT cards need'}, {'start': '18.960', 'end': '23.119', 'text': 'to keep an eye out for scammers trying'}, {'start': '20.480', 'end': '24.960', 'text': 'to steal that money. The Supplemental'}, {'start': '23.119', 'end': '27.359', 'text': 'Nutritional Assistance Program, or SNAP,'}, {'start': '24.960', 'end': '29.199', 'text': 'helps more than 125,000 low-income'}, {'start': '27.359', 'end': '31.279', 'text': 'families in Arkansas put food on the'}, {'start': '29.199', 'end': '33.120', 'text': 'table. Jessica Rockwell is in studio'}, {'start': '31.279', 'end': '35.600', 'text': 'tonight. And Jessica, this scam has been'}, {'start': '33.120', 'end': '37.520', 'text': 'reported all over the country, including'}, {'start': '35.600', 'end': '39.360', 'text': 'right here in Arkansas. So, what do'}, {'start': '37.520', 'end': '41.239', 'text': 'users need to look out for? How can they'}, {'start': '39.360', 'end': '43.280', 'text': 'protect themselves and their'}, {'start': '41.239', 'end': '45.879', 'text': 'families? The US Department of'}, {'start': '43.280', 'end': '49.039', 'text': 'Agriculture says it has replaced more'}, {'start': '45.879', 'end': '51.760', 'text': 'than 150 million in SNAP benefits that'}, {'start': '49.039', 'end': '55.360', 'text': 'were stolen from January of 23 to'}, {'start': '51.760', 'end': '58.480', 'text': 'September of 2024. Now, altogether that'}, {'start': '55.360', 'end': '60.399', 'text': 'impacted nearly 300,000 families'}, {'start': '58.480', 'end': '62.480', 'text': 'nationally, including right here in'}, {'start': '60.399', 'end': '64.720', 'text': 'Arkansas. These scammers are very good'}, {'start': '62.480', 'end': '66.560', 'text': 'at their job. But Arkansas leaders say'}, {'start': '64.720', 'end': '68.840', 'text': 'there are some things that you can do to'}, {'start': '66.560', 'end': '71.760', 'text': 'put an end to the growing'}, {'start': '68.840', 'end': '74.720', 'text': 'scheme. Angela Adams is prepping for her'}, {'start': '71.760', 'end': '77.759', 'text': 'next big grocery run. Fruits, veggies,'}, {'start': '74.720', 'end': '80.640', 'text': "and her kids favorite snacks. She won't"}, {'start': '77.759', 'end': '82.960', 'text': 'step foot in a store for another 3 days,'}, {'start': '80.640', 'end': '85.840', 'text': 'but Adam says she needs to get started'}, {'start': '82.960', 'end': '87.840', 'text': "early. It's like, yeah, use or lose."}, {'start': '85.840', 'end': '89.840', 'text': "It's a rather unique motto that the"}, {'start': '87.840', 'end': '92.240', 'text': 'family has adopted for their monthly'}, {'start': '89.840', 'end': '94.720', 'text': "food budget, but these parents say it's"}, {'start': '92.240', 'end': '96.240', 'text': 'better to be safe than sorry. When you'}, {'start': '94.720', 'end': '97.840', 'text': 'got about $200 worth of groceries and'}, {'start': '96.240', 'end': '100.799', 'text': "there's a dollar on your card, you kind"}, {'start': '97.840', 'end': '103.119', 'text': 'of, you know, the Adams have used SNAP'}, {'start': '100.799', 'end': '105.040', 'text': 'on and off for about 10 years. In the'}, {'start': '103.119', 'end': '108.079', 'text': 'last 6 months, they say their benefits'}, {'start': '105.040', 'end': '111.600', 'text': 'have been stolen twice. first in October'}, {'start': '108.079', 'end': '113.759', 'text': 'of 2024 and then again in March of this'}, {'start': '111.600', 'end': '116.000', 'text': "year. Each time it's at least a few"}, {'start': '113.759', 'end': '118.640', 'text': 'hundred bucks and happens just hours'}, {'start': '116.000', 'end': '121.240', 'text': 'after that money hits their account. It'}, {'start': '118.640', 'end': '123.880', 'text': 'can be hard to sit there and see your'}, {'start': '121.240', 'end': '127.439', 'text': 'child be'}, {'start': '123.880', 'end': '130.720', 'text': 'hungry and not be able to do anything'}, {'start': '127.439', 'end': '133.680', 'text': 'about it. In 2024, DHS says just in'}, {'start': '130.720', 'end': '136.080', 'text': 'Arkansas more than,00 families reported'}, {'start': '133.680', 'end': '140.000', 'text': 'having their SNAP benefits stolen.'}, {'start': '136.080', 'end': '142.959', 'text': 'totaling more than $550,000.'}, {'start': '140.000', 'end': '145.680', 'text': "It's a big impact. DHS says the thieves"}, {'start': '142.959', 'end': '147.760', 'text': 'are stealing funds using card skimmers.'}, {'start': '145.680', 'end': '150.239', 'text': 'The device is placed on top of a'}, {'start': '147.760', 'end': '152.560', 'text': 'traditional reader and is able to copy'}, {'start': '150.239', 'end': '156.160', 'text': 'your card number and your PIN and'}, {'start': '152.560', 'end': '158.319', 'text': "they're able to um use that information"}, {'start': '156.160', 'end': '160.400', 'text': 'to steal the benefits. And most people'}, {'start': '158.319', 'end': '162.400', 'text': "won't even notice the device other than"}, {'start': '160.400', 'end': '164.640', 'text': 'a slight difference in sizing. Now,'}, {'start': '162.400', 'end': '166.640', 'text': 'police say the best way to check and see'}, {'start': '164.640', 'end': '169.360', 'text': "if there's a card scammer is to give it"}, {'start': '166.640', 'end': '171.760', 'text': "a nice shake or tug. If it's fake, it'll"}, {'start': '169.360', 'end': '174.800', 'text': 'usually pop right off. It\'s like, "Oh'}, {'start': '171.760', 'end': '176.959', 'text': "my, there there's a real scammer out"}, {'start': '174.800', 'end': '179.599', 'text': "there somewhere that knows what they're"}, {'start': '176.959', 'end': '181.760', 'text': 'doing." In 2024, the federal government'}, {'start': '179.599', 'end': '184.000', 'text': 'was replacing any benefits that were'}, {'start': '181.760', 'end': '186.959', 'text': 'stolen, but the legislation that allowed'}, {'start': '184.000', 'end': '189.120', 'text': 'for that expired in December. DHS says'}, {'start': '186.959', 'end': '191.599', 'text': 'EBT card holders need to protect'}, {'start': '189.120', 'end': '194.000', 'text': 'themselves. Keep your PIN number a'}, {'start': '191.599', 'end': '196.800', 'text': "secret. Don't pick something common."}, {'start': '194.000', 'end': '199.920', 'text': 'Change your PIN number often. Check your'}, {'start': '196.800', 'end': '202.720', 'text': 'EBT account regularly for any suspicious'}, {'start': '199.920', 'end': '205.280', 'text': 'charges. And as a reminder, DHS says'}, {'start': '202.720', 'end': '208.159', 'text': 'they will never reach out via email,'}, {'start': '205.280', 'end': '212.159', 'text': 'social media, or text to ask for your'}, {'start': '208.159', 'end': '215.120', 'text': 'PIN. I was just devastated. Angela says'}, {'start': '212.159', 'end': '217.200', 'text': "her family's budget is stretched thin."}, {'start': '215.120', 'end': '220.159', 'text': 'Last month, she visited food pantries'}, {'start': '217.200', 'end': '222.560', 'text': 'and local churches just to get by. The'}, {'start': '220.159', 'end': '224.879', 'text': 'family is hoping by sharing their story,'}, {'start': '222.560', 'end': '226.879', 'text': 'others can follow suit and take the'}, {'start': '224.879', 'end': '229.280', 'text': 'necessary precautions to make sure no'}, {'start': '226.879', 'end': '230.560', 'text': "one goes hungry. That's what gets to me"}, {'start': '229.280', 'end': '233.200', 'text': 'cuz when you start messing with the'}, {'start': '230.560', 'end': '235.040', 'text': "kids, that's when you cross line. Now,"}, {'start': '233.200', 'end': '237.599', 'text': 'other states who have reported SNAP'}, {'start': '235.040', 'end': '239.920', 'text': 'fraud are looking into EBT cards with a'}, {'start': '237.599', 'end': '242.480', 'text': 'chip in it for more secure payments. I'}, {'start': '239.920', 'end': '244.560', 'text': 'did ask DHS about this and it says it is'}, {'start': '242.480', 'end': '246.400', 'text': "something it's looking into but likely"}, {'start': '244.560', 'end': '248.799', 'text': "won't be rolled out for at least another"}, {'start': '246.400', 'end': '251.040', 'text': 'year. I also reached out to Senator Tom'}, {'start': '248.799', 'end': '253.519', 'text': "Cotton's office to ask if Congress is"}, {'start': '251.040', 'end': '255.920', 'text': 'looking to reinstate that reimbursement'}, {'start': '253.519', 'end': '257.199', 'text': "program. I'm still waiting to hear back."}, {'start': '255.920', 'end': '260.239', 'text': "Reporting in studio, I'm Jessica"}, {'start': '257.199', 'end': '262.000', 'text': 'Rockwell for K4 News.'}, {'start': '260.239', 'end': '263.759', 'text': 'Very thorough Jessica. Thanks very much.'}, {'start': '262.000', 'end': '265.520', 'text': 'And Jessica and our entire team always'}, {'start': '263.759', 'end': '266.960', 'text': 'working for you. If you have a problem'}, {'start': '265.520', 'end': '268.240', 'text': "or you can't get a company to keep up"}, {'start': '266.960', 'end': '272.080', 'text': 'their end of the bargain, our working'}, {'start': '268.240', 'end': '272.080', 'text': 'for you hotline is ready for your call.'}]