Louisiana - The Louisiana Department of Children and Family Services (DCFS) is again recommending that EBT cardholders change their PINs right away. This recommendation is for all EBT cardholders in Louisiana and comes after the Department learned about the presence of several skimming devices at various retail stores across the state. So far, there haven't been any cases of cardholders losing their benefits.

Local and national authorities have been informed and are currently conducting investigations into these occurrences. Comparable incidents have also been reported throughout the rest of the country.

To ensure safety, DCFS is advising all EBT cardholders through text alerts to immediately change the Personal Identification Number (PIN) of their cards. DCFS is also recommending cardholders change their PIN every 30 days in order to safeguard their benefits. Changing the PIN is crucial to protect benefits and prevent unauthorized access to accounts.

DCFS suggests that all individuals who possess an EBT card take the following steps.

• To change the EBT card PIN, users can visit www.LifeInCheckEBT.com or contact the EBT customer service line at 1-888-997-1117 at their earliest convenience. Remember to choose a PIN that is hard to guess, avoiding commonly used sequences or any personal details.
• Keep track of your EBT card usage by regularly checking your card transactions through the LifeInCheck EBT mobile app or the official website. If you notice any transactions that seem suspicious or unauthorized, make sure to report them promptly to the EBT customer service line.
• Exercise caution when using your card: When you make purchases, stay vigilant and inspect the card terminal for any unfamiliar devices or signs that it has been tampered with. Make sure to protect your PIN by shielding it from view, in order to avoid any potential threats to your card's security.

Louisiana DCFOS also indicated that neither DCFS nor Inmar, the EBT card vendor, will ever ask cardholders for their EBT card number or PIN. Anyone who receives any calls requesting this information is asked to inform DCFS and provide the caller's phone number. If you have already given out your information, it is important to immediately request a new EBT card and/or change your PIN in order to safeguard your benefits.

To learn more about EBT card security and how cardholders can protect their benefits, please go to dcfs.la/skimming.

If you think you have been targeted by EBT skimming contact 1-888-LA-HELPU (1-888-524-3578).