CONCORD – State Attorney General John Formella and Health and Human Services Commissioner Lori Weaver are warning participants of the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program about a phishing scam involving fraudulent telephone calls, text messages and emails.

“These scams aim to take advantage of people when they may be feeling most vulnerable,” said Formella. “We would urge anyone receiving this type of suspicious communication to hang up, not respond and to report it.”

The Department of Justice Consumer Protection and Antitrust Bureau has received initial reports of callers impersonating DHHS officials and claiming that a recipient’s EBT card will be “restricted” and that SNAP benefits will be withheld unless the consumer verifies their Social Security Number, date of birth or other sensitive information.

“Scammers often try and create a false sense of urgency,” said Weaver. “We urge SNAP recipients to be cautious, protect their personal information and contact DHHS if they receive a suspicious call.”

These calls, texts or emails do not come from DHHS, the EBT vendor or any official government agency. The DHHS does not “restrict” or “hold” SNAP benefits. Consumers who receive a call like this should hang up and call 1-844-ASK-DHHS to make a report.

How the scam works:

-The caller uses spoofed phone numbers, including toll-free numbers, to appear legitimate.

-The message falsely claims there is an issue with the consumer’s EBT card or SNAP benefits.

-The scammer then pressures the recipient to “confirm” their identity or risk losing benefits.

What consumers should do:

-Do not respond to unsolicited requests for Social Security numbers, dates of birth, PINs or EBT card numbers.

-Report suspicious calls to the DHHS Customer Service Center at 1-844-275-3447.

-Monitor your EBT card for unauthorized transactions and report them immediately if discovered.

-File a complaint with the State Department of Justice, Consumer Protection Bureau, by calling 1-888-468-4454 or visiting: https://www.doj.nh.gov/citizens/consumer-protection-antitrust-bureau.