Office of the Inspector General 

Reporting SNAP benefits stolen by means of a Cloned EBT Card

Montana Department of Public Health and Human Services (DPHHS) received approval from the U.S. Department of Agriculture, Food and Nutrition Services to move forward with replacing Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits stolen as a result of card skimming, cloning, or other similar fraudulent methods.

SNAP recipients who are victims of card skimming, cloning, or other similar fraudulent methods should request a new Montana Access, Electronic Benefit Transfer (EBT) card and PIN. To request replacement benefits, SNAP recipients must fill out the Request for Replacement of Stolen SNAP Benefits Affidavit. To obtain the Affidavit, please contact the DPHHS Office of Inspector General Program Integrity Section (1-800-201-6308) or by email at HHSQADIPVS@MT.GOV. The Affidavit is also available in any Office of Public Assistance, online form, or as a PDF form.

If eligible for replacement benefits, the total replacement amount cannot exceed the amount of the stolen benefits or the amount equal to the previous two months of the household’s SNAP benefits, whichever is less. Most eligible SNAP households will receive replacement benefits issued to their new Montana Access Cards within 12 days of completing the Request for Replacement of Stolen SNAP Benefits Affidavit.

SNAP recipients can request replacements of skimmed, cloned, or other similar methods of stolen benefits twice in each federal fiscal year (FFY). FFY 2023 is from Oct. 1, 2022-Sept. 30, 2023, and FFY 2024 is from Oct. 1, 2023-Sept. 30, 2024. Recipients who believe their SNAP benefits were stolen between Oct. 1, 2022, and August 31, 2023, have until September 30, 2023, to request a benefit replacement. Beginning September 1, 2023, SNAP recipients must report stolen SNAP benefits within 30 days of suspected fraud to request a benefit replacement.

If you suspect fraud associated with any of your benefits, report it to the DPHHS Office of Inspector General Program Integrity Section (1-800-201-6308) or by email at HHSQADIPVS@MT.GOV. Those affected by Montana Access Card benefit fraud should take immediate action by calling the Montana EBT card vendor customer service line (Solutran) to report the card lost or stolen (1-866-850-1556) and to order a replacement EBT card.

Protect your benefits. Card skimmers are placed over the stores card reading machine.  However, there are some signs that indicate a skimmer is being used, such as loose face plate, partially blocked keypad, or discolored keypad. 

Protect your EBT and PIN. Never share your card or PIN number, do not write your PIN on your EBT card, and cover the keypad when you enter your PIN. 

Monitor your EBT account regularly by signing up online at www.myBnft.com. 

Be on alert for other fraudulent scams. Phishing scams appear like real text messages or emails. The State of Montana will never ask for you to click on an unknown link or provide your EBT card information.