Is Propel a scam?
- Is Propel a scam?
- How does Propel protect user data?
- Why do people think Propel is a scam?
- Propel is a “third-party” app: Here’s what that actually means
- How Propel makes money
- What is Propel doing to fight EBT theft?
- Tools to detect theft
- Advocating for secure chip technology
- How to protect yourself from EBT theft
Table of contents
- Is Propel a scam?
- How does Propel protect user data?
- Why do people think Propel is a scam?
- Propel is a “third-party” app: Here’s what that actually means
- How Propel makes money
- What is Propel doing to fight EBT theft?
- Tools to detect theft
- Advocating for secure chip technology
- How to protect yourself from EBT theft
No, it's not. Here’s what you need to know about Propel, why people mistakenly think it’s a scam, and what we’re doing to help fight EBT theft.
Is Propel a scam?
No, Propel is not a scam. Propel is an app—and a company—that helps people who receive benefits with their financial health. Users can check their EBT balances, access exclusive deals, and stay up to date on government benefits information through the app.
As a company, Propel has advocated on behalf of low-income Americans for 10 years. We’ve partnered with the White House, and we’ve been featured by the New York Times and PBS NewsHour.
How does Propel protect user data?
We only ask for the information needed to set up an account with Propel.
After a user enters their login information to the Propel app, we create a secure connection to their state’s EBT portal. We do not store full EBT card numbers, PINs, or SSNs, and all data is encrypted to keep our users safe.
Think of it this way: when someone sends a letter in the mail, the person delivering that mail doesn’t read it—they just make sure it reaches its destination. Propel only delivers information so that our users can see it.
We do not sell user data, either. Learn about our security protocols.
We want to make one thing clear: theft does not happen through our app. Our app is safe.
It’s devastating to learn that your SNAP benefits have been stolen. EBT theft is a terrible crime. If you’ve been a victim of EBT theft, visit this reimbursement guide to learn what to do next. We’re committed to helping SNAP recipients navigate this difficult reality.
Why do people think Propel is a scam?
SNAP recipients might notice their benefits are missing after using the Propel app and assume the app is the problem. Since 1 in 4 EBT households use Propel as their go-to app for checking balances, it’s often where they first notice their benefits are missing.
But here’s the truth: EBT theft happens because the magnetic stripe technology on EBT cards is outdated and easy for criminals to target.
Most banks and credit card companies have moved to secure chip technology and tap-to-pay features to prevent fraud. State governments haven’t. This leaves EBT cards vulnerable to theft through skimming devices and phishing scams.
It’s important to know that EBT theft can happen whether someone uses Propel, a state-contracted app, or no app at all. Criminals don’t need an app to steal benefits. Benefits are stolen through skimming, which has nothing to do with the Propel app.
Propel is a “third-party” app: Here’s what that actually means
Propel is not run by the government. We’re a mission-driven tech company, founded to help people manage their benefits. Read our story.
As a private company, we’re able to build tools that go beyond what state-contracted apps offer, such as features like suspicious transaction monitoring, free mobile banking, and access to exclusive partner deals that save our users money.
More than 5 million people choose to use Propel each month. It’s a faster, easier way to check EBT balances and manage benefits than calling a 1-800 phone number. The Propel app has more than 800,000 5-star reviews. Our users’ satisfaction with our app is what keeps our company going, so we’re always working to listen and respond to feedback.
Propel is different from apps like ebtEDGE and ConnectEBT. These apps are built by other for-profit companies, like FIS & Conduent. While Propel does not contract with governments, we still use the highest security standards (and offer even better features).
How Propel makes money
Propel primarily makes money through partnerships with advertisers.
Advertisers pay to display relevant offers in the Propel app. We hand-select our advertising partners to make sure their products or services align with our users’ needs. For example, users might see grocery deals or sponsored job listings in the app. We understand that trust is crucial, especially when it comes to managing benefits, so we’re extremely selective about who we partner with.
What is Propel doing to fight EBT theft?
At Propel, we’re doing everything we can to protect our users. While we can’t fix outdated card technology—that’s up to state governments—we’ve built features and tools to help detect, prevent, and report theft.
Tools to detect theft
Our app includes advanced security features that flag suspicious transactions. For many users, Propel is the first place they notice unusual activity. We make it easy to report theft by helping users understand their specific state’s requirements. Learn about Propel’s comprehensive security features.
Advocating for secure chip technology
We’ve pushed for state governments to adopt modern chip technology for EBT cards, which would make skimming and phishing nearly impossible. Earlier this year, we worked with a bipartisan group of Senators and Representatives to introduce legislation requiring chip-enabled EBT cards.
We encourage all SNAP recipients to reach out to their state representatives to advocate for this critical change. Upgrading to secure chip cards would bring SNAP card technology in line with modern banking standards.
How to protect yourself from EBT theft
- Change your PIN before your deposit lands & don’t use an obvious PIN like 1234
- Before you swipe your card, tug on the machine to make sure there isn’t a skimmer attached to it
- Block out-of-state transactions. Learn about this feature.
- Lock your EBT card when you’re not using it (if it’s available in your state)
- Check your balance regularly
Learn how to detect, report, and prevent EBT theft. You can also follow Propel on TikTok for more tips about protecting yourself from EBT theft.
Propel is here to support our users—not scam them. Our mission is to make life easier for people who rely on EBT, and we’ll continue to fight for better tools and stronger protections for our users.