Texting scam in Ohio uses welfare smart cards as phishing bait

Scammers are peppering people on public assistance in Ohio with text messages related to their card-accessed accounts, asking them to disclose personal information, the state attorney general's office warns.

The EPPICard is not linked to a bank account or cell phone account. Rather, assistance funds are deposited to the card, which then works like a debit card, said Benjamin Johnson, spokesman for the Ohio Department of Job and Family Services.

Scam texts can be sent to anyone with a cell phone, not just EPPICard recipients. The text message says an EPPICard account has been frozen, telling the receiver to call a number at which they are prompted to give personal account information.