Little Rock, Arkansas – The Arkansas Department of Human Services (DHS) has announced an urgent security step affecting thousands of families enrolled in the summer Electronic Benefit Transfer (EBT) program. Officials confirmed on Saturday that all summer EBT recipients will be required to reset their Personal Identification Numbers linked to their benefit cards following reports of theft involving out-of-state scammers.
The move comes as part of a broader effort to protect public assistance funds and prevent further fraudulent activity. DHS said the decision was made after multiple reports surfaced showing that some families had their benefits stolen through illegal access to their accounts. The agency stressed that the new requirement is temporary but necessary to secure the system.
Under the new directive, all eligible households must change their PIN before they can continue using their EBT cards. Until the reset process is completed, the cards will not function, meaning families will temporarily be unable to access their summer food benefits.
To complete the reset, recipients are being instructed to use only official DHS channels. This includes calling the EBT customer service line at 1-800-997-9999 or using the department’s secure online portal. Officials emphasized that these are the only safe and authorized methods for updating PIN information.
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DHS is also warning families to take extra care when selecting new PIN numbers. According to officials, scammers often target accounts with simple or commonly used combinations, making them easier to break into. Strengthening PIN security is seen as one of the most effective ways to reduce future theft.
“Stealing benefits meant to feed children during the summer is a despicable and heinous crime, and the Arkansas Department of Human Services (DHS) is outraged that some families in our state have been victimized,” said DHS Secretary Janet Mann. “We know that resetting the PIN may present an inconvenience to families, but this is a necessary step to thwart ongoing fraud.”
The agency also highlighted that criminals have used a range of tactics to gain access to EBT accounts in recent years. These include physical skimming devices placed on card readers as well as digital phishing schemes involving fake emails, fraudulent websites, and deceptive text messages designed to trick users into revealing sensitive information.
Officials stressed that DHS will never contact recipients by text, email, or phone to request a PIN. Any message or call asking for such information should be treated as fraudulent and ignored immediately. Families are encouraged to remain alert and report any suspicious activity related to their benefits.
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While the PIN reset requirement may cause short-term inconvenience for many households, DHS officials say the step is essential to protecting vulnerable families and ensuring that food assistance reaches those who need it most. The agency reiterated that safeguarding benefits is a shared responsibility between the state and recipients, especially as scammers continue to evolve their methods.
As the reset process rolls out, DHS expects families to act quickly to restore access to their accounts. The department says it will continue monitoring for suspicious activity and adjusting security measures as needed to prevent further theft.
For now, officials are urging calm but careful action, reminding recipients that protecting their PIN is the key to keeping their summer EBT benefits secure.
