4 days ago
Millcreek man says over $1000 was stolen from EBT account
David Cannavino is just one of the countless people here in Erie who depend on his EBT card to buy food and other necessities.
He said he had over $1,000 in his account, but when he checked it again on Thursday, he was left with only $1.05.
'I just… I'm still dumbfounded about it,' said Cannavino, a Millcreek resident.
Cannavino's account showed his card was charged twice to a bodega he's never heard of in Chicago.
Credit card skimming scams: What they are, and how to avoid being a victim
He said he doesn't use a credit card machine without checking for skimmers first and always shops at the same places, and he believes his account was hacked.
'It's going to be nuts until the card gets loaded again because I'm retired, I'm on social security and that's all I get, so it impacts me hard,' said Cannavino.
After he learned that his EBT account was empty, he came to the Erie County Assistance Office on Holland Street, but he didn't get very far.
'I let them know about it, I gave them my card, and then they said, 'Okay, well…' They sent me in to talk to some guy and the guy says, 'There's nothing we can do about it. Our hands are tied.' So, you know, what am I going to do now?' said Cannavino.
SNAP funds stolen from 17 Pennsylvanians, over $8,000 lost
Cannavino said he spoke to other recipients at the assistance office who said their money disappeared, too.
An official at the assistance office told JET24/FOX66 that they couldn't answer our questions but referred us to another official in Harrisburg.
That official told us that he hadn't heard about the problem but assured his office is working to get to the bottom of it.
However, that's not going to help Cannavino and the other recipients who now don't have money to buy food.
New lock safety feature could help SNAP benefit recipients avoid theft
'Due to the end of congressional authorization in December 2024, benefits stolen via card skimming, fraud or other electronic theft after December 20, 2024, cannot be reissued,' said Val Arkoosh, PA Department of Human Services Secretary.
According to the US Food and Nutrition Service, the 2025 American Relief Act did not extend the authority to replace stolen SNAP benefits.
However, the Department of Human Services has already launched a program to help people lock their EBT cards, and you can find more information .
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