Boosting Online Security: LA County Plans EBT Anti-Skimming Unit in D.A.’s Office

In an effort to address the growing problem of card-skimming and the theft of public-assistance benefits, the county Board of Supervisors has unanimously approved a motion to allocate funds for the creation of a dedicated unit within the District Attorney’s Office. This unit will focus on prosecuting individuals involved in the illegal activity of stealing public assistance benefits through skimming and other electronic theft methods.

The motion calls for the collaboration between the Department of Public Social Services and the D.A.’s Office to identify funding of up to $750,000 for the year 2023-24 and approximately $1.1 million for the year 2024-25. This fund allocation will support the establishment of an Anti-Skimming Unit that will actively investigate and prosecute those responsible for the theft of public assistance benefits through skimming and similar illegal electronic tactics.

Supervisor Hilda Solis expressed concern over the rising number of skimming thefts involving benefits from CalWORKs, CalFresh, and General Relief. The total amount stolen increased from $951,500 in 2021 to $22.5 million in 2022, and it has already surpassed $39 million this year.

In a statement following the vote, Supervisor Solis emphasized the vulnerability of the individuals targeted by EBT skimming. These include people experiencing homelessness and families who are still struggling to recover from the challenges brought by the pandemic. She highlighted the distress experienced by these individuals when they discover that their account balance has been wiped out due to criminal activities. While efforts are underway to enhance EBT card security, the upgrade process will take time, and immediate relief is needed for affected families.