Massachusetts mom on SNAP says $722 was stolen after new chip EBT card had to be swiped

A Massachusetts mother said a scam that preys on grocery shoppers emptied the benefits her family uses to buy food.

Mary Barclay, a single mother in Norwood with 10-year-old twins, said the loss made it harder for her household to make it through the month.

Here's what to know

According to Boston 25 News, after seeing a Sept. 11 purchase at an Illinois store that Barclay said she did not authorize, she filed a police report. The transaction took $722 from her SNAP-funded EBT account.

About an hour before that charge, Barclay told the station she had shopped at a Shaw's in Norwood using a new EBT card issued by the state. She said the chip would not work at checkout and that she had to swipe the card instead. 

Although investigators have not confirmed where the account was compromised, Barclay believes the card information was skimmed.

"We struggle, but having basically half of my income stolen is awful," she explained to Boston 25 News. "It is a whirlwind of emotions, and I didn't know which end was up at that point."

To combat fraud, the Massachusetts Department of Transitional Assistance started giving clients updated EBT cards with chip and tap capability, the outlet noted. Those options generally provide stronger protection than magnetic-stripe swipes.

More background

Shaw's said its review found no evidence of skimming at the Norwood location, per Boston 25 News. The company also said it takes the matter "very seriously" and added, "As soon as we were notified of these concerns, we contacted local authorities and immediately took proactive steps to investigate the payment terminals."

Local police said they received a report about stolen SNAP benefits in Norwood, but investigators did not find a skimming device, per the station. They also said they could not confirm that Shaw's was where the card was compromised.

The DTA said its clients have lost more than $17 million to EBT skimming, according to the station. Federal reimbursement for stolen funds ended in December 2024.

Barclay told Boston 25 News that without those benefits, she has had to rely on local food pantries, along with help from friends and relatives.

"It's heart-wrenching; it's a kick in the gut," Barclay reflected. "But just a bump in the road. We'll get through."

What can be done?

State officials said clients are safest when they can use the chip or tap features on the newer EBT cards. The agency is also pressing retailers to update checkout systems so those features are available, Boston 25 News reported.

A DTA spokesperson condemned the fraud.

"Stealing from individuals trying to feed their families is reprehensible," a DTA spokesperson said in a statement to the station. "Skimming incidents like this are exactly why DTA sent every client a chip and tap ready card to help secure their benefits."

Barclay has already taken additional steps since the theft. Boston 25 News reported that she got a replacement EBT card from the state and began using DTA's recommended card-locking feature. She is also planning to change her PIN regularly.

"I was very naive to this [scam], but unfortunately, I found out the hard way," Barclay relayed to the station. "But I want other people to know that this is a serious thing."

Where can I learn more?

For families trying to keep grocery costs under control, stolen benefits can be one more setback in an already expensive routine. Resourceful shoppers have found ways to optimize SNAP use, save on groceries without it, and navigate other frustrations at the store.

• One single mother said food stamps for garden seeds helped stretch her family's grocery budget.

• Shoppers using the Flashfood app found big savings at grocery stores without relying on SNAP.

• A student living paycheck to paycheck turned to groceries for ridiculously low prices through Farmers Pick.

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