Pennsylvania DHS Warns SNAP Recipients of Widespread Scam Calls

The Pennsylvania Department of Human Services has issued warnings about an active scam targeting Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) recipients. Scammers are calling from specific numbers, falsely claiming that recipients' benefits are on hold until they verify their eligibility by providing their PIN. The department emphasizes that it will never request personal information via unsolicited calls, texts, or emails and urges anyone receiving such calls to report them to the DHS fraud tip line. This scam alert comes amid a freeze on SNAP benefits starting in November due to the federal government shutdown, though recipients are reminded to continue completing renewals and reporting any changes. For immediate food assistance, recipients are encouraged to contact local resources such as 211 or Feeding Pennsylvania. The DHS assures that recipients will be properly notified when benefit payments resume.