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This week, the Oregon Department of Human Services (ODHS) deactivated and replaced more than 1,300 EBT (Electronic Benefit Transfer) cards, following card-skimming incidents in Coos Bay and the North Bend areas.
This was announced by ODHS, which confirmed that SNAP benefits will be issued as normal in December, following last month’s uncertainty with the federal government’s off-and-on-again funding of the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program.
The ODHS states in a news release that there has been a significant amount of theft involving skimming of EBT cards, not only in Oregon but also nationwide.
Tidings Data Snapshot
SNAP in Oregon: Scale of Use and Recent EBT Theft SignalsSource: USDA Food and Nutrition Service (FY 2024 Oregon SNAP participation via USAFacts) and ODHS press release on reported EBT theft (Nov. 25, 2025).DailyTidings.com
ODHS deactivated 1,350 EBT cards from the Coos Bay and North Bend areas on December 2. To prevent fraud, new cards were automatically sent to affected households and should be received by mail within five days.
| Item | Detail |
|---|---|
| Cards deactivated | 1,350 in Coos Bay and North Bend area |
| Deactivation date | December 2, 2025 |
| Replacement timeline | New cards mailed automatically - expected within 5 days |
| Urgent replacements | Available at local ODHS offices |
| Prevention tools | Freeze card, block online/out-of-state, monitor activity in ebtEDGE |
Families in Urgent Need of an EBT Card Should Visit Their Local ODHS Offices
Families in urgent need of an EBT card can visit their local ODHS office for an immediate replacement.
While the ODHS is doing everything in its power to protect SNAP recipients, card skimming is becoming increasingly prevalent.
Card skimming occurs when criminals insert an electronic device over or inside ATM card readers, which illegally captures data from the magnetic strip or microchip during a legitimate transaction.
ODHS Director Liesl Wendt recommends that SNAP beneficiaries protect their EBT cards by changing their PIN numbers regularly, blocking online or out-of-state purchases, and keeping their cards in a secure place.
SNAP recipients are also encouraged to use the official ebtEDGE website and mobile app, available for both Apple and Android devices, to securely manage their benefits online.
Issuing SNAP Food Benefits is Back to Normal
“Every month, hundreds of thousands of children, older adults, hard-working families, and individuals depend on getting their SNAP food benefits…we are grateful to be able to return to issuing those benefits,” says Wendt.
For more information, click here.
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