Consumer Alerts

​Community Services Block Grant (CSBG) Consumer Alert

Californians should be aware of fraudulent activity by individuals claiming to represent the Community Services Block Grant (CSBG). Fraudsters unrelated to CSBG are contacting people by telephone, email, social media, and text message offering CSBG funding or services in exchange for a fee.

Neither the State of California nor the federal government provides direct CSBG grants to individuals. Additionally, neither the California Department of Community Services and Development ​nor the federal Office of Community Services initiates contact with individuals by phone, email, text messages, or social media channels to request personal or financial information.

If you are made aware of or receive any communication offering a CSBG grant or requesting a fee in exchange for funding, please report it to the United States Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Fraud Hotline at 1-800-447-8477.

For more information, please visit: Grant Fraud and Scams.​​

Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP)​ Consumer Alert​

​Californians should be aware of fraudulent activity by individuals seeking to take advantage of people's heightened economic anxiety​. Individuals posing as representatives from utility companies are contacting people by telephone, email, social media, and text message to defraud people out of their money ​and personal information by convincing them their utilities will be shut off if they don’t pay. 

If you get a call from someone claiming to be your utility company, firmly tell them you will contact the utility company directly, and do not give banking information over the phone unless you place the call to a number you know is legitimate. Utility companies don’t demand banking information by email or phone. And they won’t force you to pay by phone as your only option.

If you are made aware of or receive any communication, please report it to ​the F​ederal Trade Commission​ (FTC). ​Your reports help the FTC and our law enforcement partners stop scammers.

For more information, please visit: FTC's Consum​er Information Site​​​.​

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