Georgia’s Electronic Food Benefits Call Center Hit by Cyberattack: What It Means for You

ATLANTA, Ga. – Recently, Georgia’s food benefits hotline fell victim to a cyberattack. This service, managed by the Georgia Department of Human Services (DHS) and private contractor Conduent, faced disruptions on July 28, 2025.

The attack aimed at Conduent’s call center, where automated bots caused significant service interruptions and attempted unauthorized account access. In response, Conduent implemented interim security measures. They detected a surge in calls, a common issue for call centers, and blocked suspicious activity.

Conduent also highlighted its new app feature, ConnectEBT, allowing users to lock and unlock their EBT cards for added security.

This incident is part of a growing trend of food benefits fraud. Reports show that scammers are increasingly hacking into store systems to access SNAP (Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program) accounts. In the past six months, many Georgians reported losing their monthly food funds just minutes after they were deposited. The quick transactions, often occurring across multiple states, are raising concerns.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) and the U.S. Secret Service have traced some of these frauds back to international crime rings. Last year alone, criminals stole around $350 million from SNAP, indicating a 350% increase in fraud during the last quarter of 2024 compared to earlier in the year. Many fraudulent transactions occurred in stores not authorized by the USDA, casting doubt on the system’s security.

The USDA has acknowledged criminal organizations’ involvement in these scams, revealing that they are using cloned point-of-sale machines to facilitate their operations.

As this issue escalates, it’s critical for individuals to stay informed. That’s why the USDA encourages reporting any suspected fraud. Methods to report include contacting your state office, calling the USDA’s tip line at (800) 424-9121, or submitting a report online at the USDA Office of Inspector General’s website.

By staying vigilant and utilizing new security features, EBT cardholders can better protect themselves against these types of theft.

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