CALIFORNIA — California Department of Public Health is warning residents about phone scams involving callers impersonating department employees to obtain sensitive personal and financial information.
Recent reports involve scammers claiming a prescription was filled in a victim’s name and urging the person to verify personal information to “clear their record,” according to the department.
“We are aware of ongoing scam efforts impersonating CDPH staff to pressure Californians into divulging personal information,” said CDPH Director Dr. Erica Pan. “We urge Californians to remain vigilant about phone and online scams. While CDPH staff do contact members of the public regarding public health investigations, they would never ask for personal financial information of any kind over the phone.”
The department said its employees may contact people for legitimate public health purposes, including disease investigations and contact tracing, but will never request Social Security numbers, credit card information or payment over the phone.
In some reported cases, scammers have transferred victims to video calls with people posing as police officers or other authorities. The impersonators may wear fake uniforms and appear in fabricated recording rooms to make their claims seem legitimate.
Callers may use CDPH names, badge numbers and spoofed department phone numbers to gain victims’ trust. They may request birth dates or driver’s license numbers, direct people to download encrypted apps for video calls or attempt to access personal devices.
The scams often involve urgent demands and threats of legal consequences or canceled prescriptions. Some callers have directed victims to meet at a Sacramento address, while others have made repeated calls or sent threatening text messages.
The department urges anyone who receives a suspicious call to hang up immediately, contact CDPH’s main line at 916-558-1784 and notify local law enforcement.
Incidents can also be reported to the Federal Trade Commission at ReportFraud.ftc.gov. More information is available at cdph.ca.gov.
