Stolen Benefits: Lawrence County Assistance Office

There have been an alarming number of assistance benefits stolen in other parts of Pennsylvania.  If you believe your assistance benefits such as cash or food stamps were stolen, you should call the local assistance office as seen below to report the fraud and get your card replaced.

FBI recommendations when using POS terminal

• Inspect POS terminals, ATMs, and other card readers before using. Look for anything loose, crooked, damaged, or scratched. Don’t use any card reader if you notice anything unusual.
• Pull at the edges of the keypad before entering your PIN. Then, cover the keypad when you enter your PIN to prevent cameras from recording your entry.
• Use ATMs in a well-lit, indoor location, which are less vulnerable targets.
• Be alert for skimming devices in tourist areas, which are popular targets.
• Use debit and credit cards with chip technology. In the U.S., there are fewer devices that steal chip data versus magnetic strip data.
• Avoid using your debit card when you have linked accounts. Use a credit card instead.
• Contact your financial institution if the ATM doesn’t return your card after you end or cancel a transaction.