Scammers posing as California Department of Public Health (CDPH) employees are calling residents and trying to steal Social Security numbers, credit card data and other personal information, the agency warned in an alert distributed by the Ventura County Health Care Agency on Friday, Oct. 23.

The callers typically claim a prescription was filled in the victim's name and pressure them to "verify" personal details to "clear their record," according to the CDPH alert. In some cases, scammers have transferred victims to a video call with someone impersonating a police officer in a fake uniform and fabricated recording room.

CDPH Director Dr. Erica Pan said the department is "aware of ongoing scam efforts impersonating CDPH staff to pressure Californians into divulging personal information."

"They would never ask for personal financial information of any kind over the phone," Pan said of legitimate CDPH staff.

The schemes use coordinated callers who reference CDPH names, badge numbers and phone lines to appear legitimate, the alert said. Scammers may also ask victims to download encrypted apps for video calls or try to access personal devices. Some callers threaten legal consequences or canceled prescriptions and direct people to meet at a Sacramento address.

CDPH said it may contact residents for legitimate public health purposes such as disease investigations and contact tracing. Those calls will never involve requests for Social Security numbers, credit card information or payment.

The warning comes as fraud targeting Ventura County residents remains a concern. The Ventura County District Attorney's Office announced Sept. 2 that Ze Li, 35, of Fremont, was charged with stealing $20,000 from an elderly county resident in an alleged computer scam. District Attorney Erik Nasarenko said investigators believe Li acted as a courier picking up stolen funds for fraudsters operating outside the county. Li pleaded not guilty at his Aug. 31 arraignment.

What to do if you receive a suspicious call:

  • Hang up immediately.
  • Contact CDPH's main line at (916) 558-1784.
  • Notify local law enforcement.
  • Report the incident to the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) at ReportFraud.ftc.gov.