As summer food money hits SNAP cards, some Memphis families say it is gone almost as fast as it arrives. Residents are reporting that their Electronic Benefit Transfer accounts have been quietly drained by thieves, leaving them scrambling to cover basic groceries just as kids are home from school. The jump in complaints comes while nearby states are rolling out tighter controls on how and where EBT cards can be used.
Mississippi turns on ConnectEBT locks
Starting June 11, Mississippi will roll out a ConnectEBT mobile app for SNAP clients that includes a card-lock button, tools to change PINs, and settings that let users limit when their card can be used, according to the Mississippi Department of Human Services. When the update takes effect, online and out-of-state SNAP purchases will be turned off by default. Local station WLBT reports that officials hope those built-in limits will make it tougher for scammers to cash out stolen benefits across state lines.
Arkansas orders PIN resets for Summer EBT
Across the river, the Arkansas Department of Human Services announced on May 30 that every Summer EBT recipient has to immediately reset the PIN on their card or it simply will not work, according to Arkansas DHS. The agency is telling families to use the official online portal or the EBT phone line to make the change, and to ignore any texts or emails fishing for card numbers or PINs. Arkansas officials say they are also working with USDA investigators to follow up on suspicious transactions tied to reported thefts.
Memphis families say benefits keep vanishing
In Memphis, residents say the problem is not abstract policy but empty fridges. Tjah Doss told FOX13 Memphis that more than $1,400 disappeared from her EBT account before she realized what was happening. Another shopper, Sharonda Smith, said a theft in 2024 pushed her to start locking her card after every single purchase. A third Memphis resident told FOX13 that someone even tried to run her card at a Kroger in Ohio but was blocked when the thief could not guess the PIN. Advocates say stories like these are piling up at precisely the time families lean hardest on SNAP, with kids home for the summer and school meals off the table.
Why states are moving now…