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Oregon Replaces 1,300 Food Benefit Cards After Skimming Hits Coos Bay and North Bend News By Lucille McNamara On Dec 6, 2025 Last updated Dec 6, 2025 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 Signals ~758,000 Average monthly SNAP recipients in Oregon (FY 2024) 17.7% Share of Oregon’s population receiving SNAP (FY 2024) 220 Households reporting SNAP/TANF EBT theft in October ~$86,000 Estimated benefits stolen in those October reports 104 Theft attempts blocked after people used card protections Source: 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. Tidings Timeline Nov 2025 – Federal SNAP funding uncertainty raises delays fears. Dec 2 2025 – ODHS deactivates 1,350 cards in Coos Bay-North Bend. Dec 2 2025 – New cards automatically mailed. Within 5 days – Most households should receive replacements. Dec 2025 – SNAP benefits issued on schedule. For more information, click here . Share Twitter Facebook ReddIt WhatsApp Pinterest Email