California Department of Public Health Warns of Phone Scams Impersonating Public Health Officials
The California Department of Public Health (CDPH) warned on Oct. 22 (release NR26-032) that scammers have been impersonating department employees to obtain sensitive personal and financial information, asking people to verify information related to pharmacy visits or prescription requests. CDPH said its staff may contact individuals for legitimate public health purposes such as disease contact tracing, but will never request Social Security numbers, credit card information or payment over the phone.
According to CDPH, recent reports include scammers claiming a prescription was filled in the victim's name and urging immediate verification to "clear their record." In some cases, victims were transferred to a video call with an individual impersonating a police officer in a fake uniform and fabricated recording room. Callers have referenced CDPH names, badge numbers or phone lines, spoofed department phone numbers, used threats such as legal consequences or canceled prescriptions, and in some cases directed people to meet at a Sacramento address.
"We are aware of ongoing scam efforts impersonating CDPH staff to pressure Californians into divulging personal information," said CDPH Director Dr. Erica Pan. CDPH advises anyone who receives a suspicious call to hang up immediately, contact the department's main line at (916) 558-1784, notify local law enforcement, and report the incident to the Federal Trade Commission at the FTC's ReportFraud site.
Published by GSM · USA (original Chinese edition)
Photo: 图：电话接听（资料图）（Fort Family Call Center, Connecting people to people 24-7 120808-A-IL912-845，作者：Sgt. 1st Class Joel Quebec，Public domain，经 Wikimedia Commons）。Photo: Answering a phone call (file photo) (Sgt. 1st Class Joel Quebec, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons).
