California upgrades EBT cards with microchips to combat $15M monthly theft by January.

California will launch new electronic benefit transfer (EBT) cards with embedded microchips for enhanced security, delayed until January. This upgrade aims to combat a theft wave costing low-income families over $15 million monthly, caused by skimming devices. These cards will be the first in the U.S. with advanced fraud protection since 2015. California has allocated $50 million for the upgrade, which will include a magnetic stripe as a backup.

September 16, 2024
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