Dept. Of Children & Families Warns Of Public Aid Scam

TALLAHASSEE (CBSMiami/AP) — Several fake websites are offering to help people apply for public assistance, if they provide financial and personal information.

Florida's Department of Children and Families said Friday it had recently received several reports of websites not run by the state asking for sensitive information.

DCF officials said there was only one website authorized to accept applications for Medicaid, food stamps or welfare. The web address is http://www.myflorida.com/accessflorida.

DCF Secretary David Wilkins cautioned public assistance applicants to safeguard their personal data just like they would bank or financial information.

The department also cautioned about mobile phone applications that request confidential information from people who have electronic benefits transfer (EBT) cards. DCF officials said such phone applications could open the door to potential fraud.

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