Cyberattack Disrupts Georgia SNAP Call Center
A cyberattack on Monday, July 28, 2025, disrupted the state-operated SNAP benefits call center in Atlanta, Georgia, leaving thousands of recipients temporarily unable to access their Electronic Benefit Transfer (EBT) accounts. The attack targeted an Interactive Voice Response (IVR) system operated by Conduent, a private contractor hired by the Georgia Department of Human Services (DHS). Officials say bots were used to overwhelm the system and attempt unauthorized access to user information. In response, DHS and Conduent deployed interim security measures, launched a formal investigation, and alerted the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Food and Nutrition Service. No client data compromise has been confirmed as of this writing.
The incident comes amid a nationwide surge in SNAP-related fraud and follows warnings from federal agencies about the use of cloned point-of-sale terminals and automated attacks to exploit benefit systems. Georgia alone reported over $23 million in suspected SNAP fraud in the first half of 2025. To improve protection, Conduent and DHS are promoting the use of the ConnectEBT app, a security tool launched in Georgia in late 2024 that allows users to lock their cards between transactions or restrict use by location. Still, awareness remains low, with only 6% of eligible households in the state having activated the feature by mid-2025.
The July breach marks the second major cyber event involving Conduent this year. In January 2025, the company experienced a separate cyberattack that disrupted child support disbursements in several states, including Wisconsin and Pennsylvania. That incident delayed over $27 million in payments in Pennsylvania alone and was later confirmed to have resulted in the exfiltration of sensitive personal data. Conduent has since partnered with cybersecurity firm Unit 42 to improve its defenses. The recurrence of incidents has drawn renewed scrutiny to the firm’s role in administering essential public services and raised questions about the cybersecurity readiness of privatized benefit infrastructure nationwide.