CHICOPEE, Mass. (WWLP) - The Massachusetts Department of Transitional Assistance (DTA) is reminding people of the importance of protecting their accounts. According to DTA, they have approximately 1.1 million people receiving benefits statewide. DTA says that 1,317 DTA clients reported that their benefits were stolen in December 2024. This is below the average of 1,700 a month. SNAP benefits being stolen in western MA, DTA warns of skimming The department has been working on ways to provide added protection from theft. In November, they introduced a new EBT card locking feature that allows clients to control when their card is usable by locking and unlocking it through the free DTA Connect mobile app and web portal. As a result of this feature, fewer clients experienced benefit theft in December. In February 2024, the 22News I-Team received multiple calls from people who said their benefits had been stolen. At that time, DTA confirmed that in most cases information was stolen through skimming, where an illegal device is placed on an ATM or credit card reader. The device collects card numbers and Personal Identification Numbers, or PIN codes, which are then copied into counterfeit cards. Federal law had authorized reimbursement for stolen SNAP benefits for any benefits stolen before December 20, 2024. Congress failed to pass a continuing resolution to extend this deadline, which means benefits stolen after Dec. 20 may not be reimbursed. Reimbursement SNAP benefits are paid for by the federal government. DTA offers these tips on how to protect your benefits from fraud: Change your EBT card PIN before each time you get your DTA benefits If you get TAFDC or EAEDC, you can call your case manager to ask about having your benefits deposited to your bank account Never provide your personal information, EBT card number, or Personal Identification Number (PIN) to unidentified callers, or to a link provided via text or email More information on how to protect benefits can be found here. If you think your card and benefits have been stolen, tell DTA right away and change your PIN. To report stolen benefits, visit Mass.gov. Local News Headlines Holyoke Mall secures three-year loan extension Local 5th graders learn about weather and journalism Westfield police seeking help in identifying individuals suspected of package theft State program offers winter heating bill relief WWLP-22News, an NBC affiliate, began broadcasting in March 1953 to provide local news, network, syndicated, and local programming to western Massachusetts. Watch the 22News Digital Edition weekdays at 4 p.m. on WWLP.com.