Scammers targeting those with FoodShare benefits

The Wisconsin Department of Health Services (DHS) is investigating a scam that targets FoodShare members through fake text messages. The DHS is alerting members to take steps now to protect their benefits.

“It is alarming that scammers are going after public benefits like FoodShare, that people rely on to feed themselves and their families,” said DHS Inspector General Anthony Baize. “We encourage FoodShare members to understand how to protect their benefits from these increasingly sophisticated scams and to report them when they happen.”

The DHS investigation is based on complaints from concerned FoodShare members about a scam, instructing them to call a phone number to confirm their account and personal identification numbers (PINs), to avoid having benefits locked. Scammers then use this information to access and steal the benefits.

To limit the potential for benefit loss, the DHS is removing access to all unauthorized phone numbers linked to cases within the investigation. The DHS also is discontinuing and replacing all compromised QUEST cards, and is conducting a review for each impacted member, to determine if benefits should be replaced.

The DHS advises members to take the following steps to protect their FoodShare benefits and QUEST cards: • Monitor account balances on the MyACCESS mobile app, or ebtEDGE website or mobile app.

• Add or change optional account passwords to limit unauthorized access.

• Do not share account passwords and PINs with anyone who is not part of the household.

• Create unique account passwords and PINs.

• Avoid using email addresses, and the names of family members and pets for passwords.

• Avoid using a birth date and year, as well as repeating numbers, such as 1111, numbers in a row, like 2345 and numbers that follow a pattern, like 1212, for PINs.

• Temporarily freeze QUEST cards between uses, by using the ebtEDGE website or mobile app. When members need to purchase food, they will need to unfreeze their cards using the ebtEDGE website or mobile app. This helps prevent unauthorized benefit use.

• Block out-of-state and online purchases. Members can turn off this feature before traveling out of state, or shopping for groceries online.

• Confirm that an email or text about FoodShare benefits is from the DHS, not a scammer. The DHS sends official Food-Share texts from 94347 (WI DHS) and emails from dhs@info.wisconsin.gov. DHS FoodShare texts and emails never ask members for personal information, such as a birthday or Social Security number, or financial information, like a bank account or credit card number. The DHS does not offer prizes or money to members, for responding to these texts and emails.

Check the FoodShare card balance by calling QUEST Card Service, at 877-415-5164, using the MyACCESS mobile app, ebtEDGE website or ebtEDGE mobile app. Using only these tools to check the card balance helps prevent unauthorized card access.

Call a local agency to ask about suspicious FoodShare account activity, check account information, establish an account password and ask general benefit questions. To change PINs, immediately report lost or stolen cards, and to report suspicious FoodShare acount activity outside of a local agency’s business hours, call QUEST Card Service.

Report any emails or texts about FoodShare benefits that are not sent by the DHS, to the agency that issues the benefits and Wisconsin’s Consumer Protection Hotline, at 800-4227128 or DATCPHotline@wi.gov.