防止SNAP等盜竊 麻州將推出電子福利卡

(Boston Orange編譯) 麻州政府宣佈，正在把電子福利卡（EBT）全面升級為具備「晶片（Chip）」與「感應（Tap）」功能的卡片，確保全州近一百萬名使用諸如SNAP糧食券，領取共約26億美元補助款的民眾，福利資金能安全入帳。

麻州政府表示，已從去年8月起通知零售商更新收款設備，藉以打擊日益嚴重的側錄盜領犯罪。

由於大多數EBT卡仍在使用舊式「磁條」，犯罪分子常藉著在商店收款機安裝「側錄器（Skimmers）」，盜取磁條資訊並複製卡片，非法偷取民眾福利。卡片升級後，採用EMV技術，每次交易都會產生唯一的加密代碼，將大幅降低被盜刷風險。

聯邦政府是2024年才授權讓EBT卡使用晶片技術，並在2025年發佈執行辦法指引。麻州州長奚莉（Maura Healey）立即爭取到州議會撥款支持，成為繼加州、奧克拉荷馬州之後，全美第3個推動這種技術的州。

麻州共有約5500家收受SNAP卡的零售商需要更新銷售點（POS）收銀系統，使用電子福利卡者，將來只需要「插卡」或「感應」即可完成支付交易，操作方式將和一般的商業信用卡或金融卡相同。

Massachusetts to Launch EBT Chip Cards to Prevent SNAP Theft, Protect Tax Dollars  

Healey-Driscoll Administration begins notifying retailers as Massachusetts would become the third state in country to adopt chip and tap-enabled EBT cards shown to greatly prevent theft in system 

BOSTON – Massachusetts is moving forward with the adoption of chip and tap-enabled Electronic Benefit Transfer (EBT) cards, which will enhance security measures to better prevent theft across the system, including for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP). Massachusetts would become the third state in the country to implement this important tool to prevent theft and ensure taxpayer dollars are protected. 

The Healey-Driscoll Administration has started notifying Massachusetts retailers to prepare for this upcoming change by updating their Point-of-Sale (POS) system to accept the new chip and/or tap EBT cards. The Department of Transitional Assistance (DTA) will begin piloting chip and tap-enabled EBT cards later this year. 

“Massachusetts is taking action to protect families and the programs they rely on to afford groceries and other essential goods,” said Governor Maura Healey. “These new chip-enabled EBT cards will strengthen protections against theft and make sure this support is going to the people who need it. We’re one of the first states in the nation to adopt this new technology because protecting taxpayer dollars is a top priority for us, and we thank retailers and clients in advance for working with us to implement this.” 

SNAP is a federal program that is entirely funded with federal dollars. SNAP fraud is extremely rate – less than one percent of the SNAP caseload has been found to have committed fraud. 

Chip and tap-enabled EBT cards were not authorized by federal government for use until 2024, and guidance for states to implement these more secure EBT cards was not released until August 2025. In 2025, Governor Healey introduced and the Legislature passed funding to implement the transition to these more secure cards. Only two other states have launched chip and tap-enabled EBT card pilot programs to date. 

EBT cards are where benefits are stored and accessed by almost one million people in Massachusetts who receive assistance from DTA. There are an estimated 5,500 SNAP retailers in Massachusetts who complete EBT transactions. DTA issues approximately $2.6 billion in SNAP benefits annually to households meeting a variety of eligibility criteria.  

Benefit theft occurs when eligible clients have their benefits stolen through criminal activity. The most common method of benefit theft is installing card skimmers on Point of Sale (POS) devices to steal the card information from the card’s magnetic stripe. Criminals then use the card information to make fraudulent purchases, leaving zero balances for clients to meet their basic needs as intended. 

Massachusetts chip and tap-enabled EBT cards will contain a Europay Mastercard Visa (EMV) microchip and other technology that is much more secure than a traditional magnetic stripe EBT card. For every transaction, the microchip generates a unique code that must be verified by the EBT system before the transaction will be authorized. Chip and tap-enabled EBT cards complete transactions by either being   inserted into a POS terminal, or tapped on the POS terminal, rather than swiped using the magnetic stripe.  

“DTA’s job is to provide support to eligible households in need, and blocking criminal actors who would intervene and steal those benefits is an absolute top priority. After years of advocacy and hard work to get here, Massachusetts is excited to introduce a measure that will further reduce opportunities for benefits to be stolen, helping families put food on the table and stopping theft before it occurs,” said DTA Commissioner Michael Cole. “Thanks to the Governor and Legislature’s investment, EBT cards will be better aligned with the safeguards that have long existed for commercial credit and debit cards. We’re hopeful that retailers can quickly adopt the technology needed to utilize this card technology, and we stand ready to make sure this process goes as smoothly as possible.” 

“The migration to chip-enabled EBT cards adds an important layer of security to the Commonwealth’s food benefits system,” said Jon B. Hurst, President & CEO, Retailers Association of Massachusetts. “Retailers have been upgrading their Point-of-Sale (POS) systems to prepare for this change, and we appreciate the partnership with the Healey-Driscoll Administration to ensure a seamless transition.”  

DTA has previously taken significant action to prevent benefit theft and safeguard client benefits, including: 

• Implementing card lock/unlock technology using DTA Connect mobile application and the Cardholder Customer Service Line.  
• Providing an EBT card safety flyer with every EBT card issued that contains information on how to lock/unlock your card, as well as frequently change the PIN. 
• Educating clients on card safety and encouraging regular changing of their EBT card PIN to enhance security, and forcing re-pinning when there was known high-risk for stolen PINs. 
• Producing educational materials on protecting your EBT card and identifying scams (informational videos, flyers, and more) in multiple languages, available on mass.gov/ProtectYourEBT  
• Engaging retailers and retail associations through outreach and education on benefit theft schemes and patterns, and partnering with law enforcement on information sharing. 

Fraud prevention is a critical responsibility for all DTA staff. DTA uses eligibility interviews and verification to ensure accurate initial determinations. DTA constantly leverages advanced data analytics and tools – regularly adding new methods – data matching, transaction monitoring, and a variety of fraud detection practices to detect and resolve potential program integrity risks. When issues are identified DTA conducts non-criminal fraud investigations, disqualifies individuals for program violations, refers cases for prosecution, calculates overpayments and establishes claims for repayment.  

DTA operates a fraud hotline via phone and email inbox where anybody can submit a referral for investigation. Suspected fraudulent activity is investigated through dedicated program integrity and law enforcement partnerships. DTA also actively partners with State Auditor’s Office Bureau of Special Investigation (BSI) and the Office of the Inspector General on program integrity initiatives.  

Anyone is able to report fraud to DTA online using this form, by email DTA.ReportFraud@MassMail.State.MA.US, or by phone using DTA’s Fraud Hotline at 800-372-8399.