Jonesboro, Arkansas – The Arkansas Department of Human Services is warning SNAP recipients across the state to be on alert after reports of scammers pretending to be DHS employees and attempting to collect sensitive personal information over the phone.
Officials said Wednesday that the agency has received multiple complaints about fraudulent calls coming from 888 area code phone numbers. In these calls, the scammers are reportedly claiming to represent DHS and targeting people who receive Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits.
The callers often use pressure tactics. According to DHS, some of them falsely tell recipients that their SNAP account will be closed unless they immediately provide personal details. The agency stressed that these claims are not legitimate and that DHS is not making these types of calls to beneficiaries.
State officials are urging residents to remain cautious and to avoid sharing any personal or Electronic Benefits Transfer (EBT) account information with unknown callers. DHS emphasized that protecting account security is critical, especially as scammers continue to develop more convincing tactics.
Read also: Conway to host community forest plan meeting on July 21
Authorities said that anyone who receives such a call should hang up immediately and not engage with the caller. Even brief conversations, officials warn, can sometimes lead to attempts to extract additional sensitive information.
The department also reminded recipients that DHS staff will never request personal account details or PIN numbers over the phone in this manner. Any request for immediate action tied to account closure or benefit suspension should be treated as a red flag.
For individuals who may have already shared their information with scammers, DHS has provided guidance on how to secure their accounts. Officials directed recipients to visit ar.gov/snapfraud, where step-by-step instructions are available for changing an EBT account PIN and protecting benefits from unauthorized access.
The warning comes as part of ongoing efforts to combat fraud targeting public assistance programs. Officials say scammers often exploit fear and urgency, particularly among vulnerable populations who rely on monthly SNAP benefits for groceries and essential needs.
Read also: Sanders launches Arkansas Forward Dashboard to track state savings
DHS is encouraging anyone who suspects fraudulent activity to report it as soon as possible. While no widespread breach of state systems has been reported, officials say public awareness remains the strongest defense against these types of scams.
Local agencies and community partners are also being asked to help spread the message so recipients are informed and can avoid falling victim to impersonation schemes.
As investigations continue into the source of the scam calls, DHS says it will keep monitoring reports and updating the public with any new developments. For now, officials are stressing a simple message: hang up, stay alert, and never share personal benefit information with unsolicited callers.
