(Des Moines, Iowa) – The Iowa Department of Human Services (DHS) has been made aware of a potential scam targeting Food Assistance recipients who use electronic benefit transfer (EBT). There have been reports of recipients receiving a text message which advises them their EBT funds are expiring and immediate deposit is required. It then asks them to click on a link to “apply” for benefits, at which point it asks for personal information.

Iowa does not use mobile messaging to share information with EBT recipients. This is a scam. Recipients are advised NOT to click on a link or provide any personal information.