On Friday, the Pennsylvania Department of Human Services warned residents and people receiving Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program benefits that they might have been the target of a phishing scam text message.
Acting Secretary of Human Services Meg Snead explained that the fraudulent email claims the recipient has been “authorised for $1,000” in SNAP benefits and instructs them to click a link to collect the money.
If a resident receives a text message from the department, they are cautioned not to respond to it or give any personal information to the sender.
People who receive SNAP and other benefits are not sent text messages from the department’s 1-833-648-1964 number. This is because the department does not offer this service.
If the department decides to text someone, the message will not contain information concerning the recipient’s benefits, such as the amount of money they are permitted to receive, have a request for specific information, or have connections to websites that are not officially affiliated with the department.
According to the department, the majority of the department’s texts will refer readers to its website located at dhs.pa.gov, to Compass, or to a website with the extension.gov,.org, or.com.
Snead warned, “If you have received unsolicited or random calls or text messages telling you that you need to click a link to access your benefits and asking you for personal information, it is most likely a scam.”
“If you have received unsolicited or random calls or text messages telling you that you need to access your benefits by clicking a link, it is most likely a scam.”
“Do not answer, and delete the message, so that you do not become a victim of identity theft,” the message will instruct you.
If the department makes the decision to text someone, the message will not contain any information regarding the recipient’s benefits, such as the amount of money they are permitted to receive, have a request for specific information, or have connections to websites that are not officially affiliated with the department.
If the department decides to email someone, the email will not contain any information regarding the recipient’s benefits, such as the amount of money they are permitted to receive.
The majority of the department’s written materials, as stated by the agency, will direct readers to its website, which can be found at dhs.pa.gov, to Compass, or to a website with the extension.gov,.org, or.com.
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Snead issued the following warning: “If you have gotten calls or text messages that were unsolicited or random, informing you that you need to click a link to access your benefits and requesting you for personal information, it is most certainly a scam.”
“If you have gotten calls or text messages that have come to you unexpectedly or randomly telling you that you need to access your benefits by clicking a link, it is likely a scam,” You will receive the following instruction in the message:
“Do not answer, and delete the message,” to avoid being a victim of identity theft: “Do not answer and delete the message.”
