At Butler’s Terrace Apartments, EBT thefts hurts residents who need assistance with food
Rick Berry, a 63-year-old Butler resident, was excited to make a Walmart order Tuesday morning, March 3, after he previously confirmed a deposit would be coming to his Electronic Benefit Transfer (EBT) account.
But when he tapped “order,” it declined. When he checked his EBT account, it was empty.
Berry is one of a number of Butler residents who reported funds vanished from their account due to a card skimmer potentially being used at the DG Market on Main Street.
“For them to do something like that, to take every single penny from us, it’s unbelievable,” Berry said. “I don’t know exactly what I’m going to do.”
He said $287 was taken, effectively wiping out his EBT account’s balance. The money was taken out in five separate withdrawals, he said.
It’s unknown exactly how many people are victims of skimming at Butler locations. At Terrace Apartments, residents said they know of “at least 15 to 20” others who have been affected by the EBT card skimming.
Terrace Apartments residents who have been impacted are relying on churches and food banks right now, though Berry and others said it’s hard to get meat or other nutritious items that way.
“I was at the Dollar General to get my food, and they told me I had zero dollars on my card. I was there to get my groceries. Now, I don’t have anything,” Rick Mackalica, another Terrace resident, said.
The handful of residents who spoke to the Eagle said they’ve reached out to various public officials looking for answers and are hoping to receive some type of help.
“People have got to eat. You can’t limit your meals by much,” said Brenda Vantine, another resident. “This is a mess. Someone needs to do something about it.”
Days before the money was removed, Vantine could see an amount of $266 listed as “pending” on her account, which is normal.
“Then, I checked again Thursday, it’s wiped out,” Vantine said.
Berry added he reached out to the Pennsylvania Department of Human Services, who said Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) funds are not replaced in the event of card skimming. He said they will replace his card, but are doing nothing else.
Berry said he’s also reached out to Dollar General, and he said a manager did not take responsibility for the incident.
Berry anticipates he will be out of food by Tuesday or Wednesday.
“What do I do then?” he asked. “We’re not really sure what I’m going to do for this month.
“We’ll probably have to go stand in line every night with 300 other people for our meals.”
A news release said Butler city police are currently working with investigators from the state welfare office.
“At this time, we are referring all media inquiries to the local authorities as to not hinder their ongoing investigation,” said a spokesperson for Dollar General Corporation public relations.
The Pennsylvania Department of Human Services said thieves often spend weeks or months collecting EBT card information and wait to strike until after regular benefits are paid at the beginning of the month to maximize payout.
“Pennsylvanians are further urged to take an extra look before swiping their card at a point-of-sale machine to ensure there is no skimming attachment and retailers must also remain vigilant and be responsible for the removal of skimming devices in order to protect their customers,” the department said.
According to the FBI, EBT card skimming has been on the rise since 2021 because the card’s magnetic strip is less secure than an embedded microchip. It said criminals usually cash out these funds between midnight and 6 a.m. between the 1st and 10th of the month.
“EBT cardholders generally have limited protections compared with holders of common credit and debit cards,” the FBI said. “As a result, they may not be reimbursed fully or at all for benefits lost to criminals.”
The organization added reimbursement may take weeks — if it occurs at all.
A news release from Butler City Police Chief Robert O’Neill on Friday indicated Butler County Human Services has been notified and the human services office is prepared to assist those in need.
Skimming is also common at gas pumps and ATM and POS terminals. The devices store data that can be downloaded or wirelessly transferred later.
EBT thefts should be reported to local law enforcement and the state inspector general by calling 1-800-932-0582. Victims should seek replacement cards as soon as possible, the state said.
Pennsylvanians with immediate food needs should call 211 to connect with local resources.
The Terrace Apartments residents said they are trying to get the word out to media and local officials that people who already work hard and often struggle are being severely impacted by this. This includes residents who are disabled, can’t get around well and rely on deliveries from stores like Walmart who suddenly lack resources.
“Think of how many people there are in Butler who use that Dollar General, who could have been affected,” Berry said.
