Public Service Loan Forgiveness – What You Need to Know
The DFPI will host a webinar on May 31st at 12 noon (PST) about the Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF) program, eligibility, and how to apply for this federal program. This webinar is in partnership with the Student Borrower Protection Center (SBPC) and will feature a live Q&A session to help applicants get started. This webinar is free and open to all. Register on the Public Service Loan Forgiveness Webinar Registration Webpage and please share this great opportunity! This webinar is third in a series of webinars developed for the DFPI’s statewide student borrower outreach campaign. If you missed any of our student borrower events, you can watch them on the DFPI's YouTube channel.
The PSLF waiver form submission deadline is October 31, 2022. Learn more by visiting the Public Service Loan Forgiveness Program Website. If you have questions, contact the DFPI at StudentLoanServicing@dfpi.ca.gov or call us at (866) 275-2677.
DFPI Offers New Online Student Borrower Resources
The DFPI’s offers a wide range of online student borrower information and resources. Recently, we’ve added two new student loan related articles:
Be sure to check our Student Borrower Resources Webpage and social media sites on Twitter, Facebook, and LinkedIn regularly for the most recent updates and new materials. The DFPI has also created media resources to share with its community partners, including a Student Borrower Social Media Toolkit. We encourage you to share these resources with your networks an on social media. |
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Upcoming Events
For more information about DFPI’s Education & Outreach programs, events calendar, and other consumer protection resources, please visit the DFPI Education & Outreach Webpage. Recordings of select events can also be viewed on the DFPI YouTube Channel.
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May 3
10 a.m. |
Business Protection Veteran Business Owners with the DFPI, hosted in partnership with the Small Business Administration Fresno District Office. This workshop will discuss the many protection DFPI offers small businesses and how SBA can help you start and grow your business. To RSVP to this virtual event, call (559) 487-5791. |
May 11
10 a.m.
6 p.m. |
Protect Yourself from Fraud with the DFPI, hosted in partnership with the City of Tracy Parks & Recreation. The event will be held at the Lolly Hansen Senior Center. To RSVP call (209) 831-6240. |
May 18
1-2 p.m. |
2022 Senior Resource Fair
Come out to the Mission Oaks Community Center for the FREE 2022 Senior Resource Fair. The DFPI will be there informing attendees on common cyber scams used against senior citizens and how to avoid them. There will be numerous local health vendors, senior related vendors. |
May 31
Noon |
Learn about the Public Service Loan Forgiveness
In this FREE webinar, learn more about the Public Service Loan Forgiveness waiver and how to start its process. Register for the PSLF Waiver, Loan Default, and Repayment Options webinar |
June 10
10 a.m. |
Senior Scam Stopper with the DFPI, Contractors State License Board, and Office of Senator Dave Min (SD37). To RSVP, or for more information, call (949) 223-5472. |
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DFPI Recognizes Memorial Day & National Military Appreciation Month
Memorial Day is a national holiday to honor the men and women who have died while serving in the U.S. military. Originally designated to honor soldiers who lost their lives in the Civil War, the holiday has come to include all military personnel who have died while in military service. Many people visit cemeteries and memorials on Memorial Day, fly U.S. flags, wear red poppies, or attend commemorative events such as parades or military tributes. Memorial Day is also considered the unofficial beginning of summer often celebrated with barbeques, picnics, and seasonal openings of parks, pools, and outdoor venues. Anyone can participate in the National Moment of Remembrance by pausing at 3:00 p.m. for a duration of one minute to remember those who have died in military service. This year, Memorial Day is Monday, May 30th and government agencies will be closed in observance of the state and federal holiday. |
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Small Business Support for Veteran Business Owners
In the spirit of National Small Business Week (May 2-6), the DFPI is partnering with the Small Business Administration’s (SBA) Fresno District Office to host a free virtual workshop to present the many resources the DFPI offers small businesses and how the SBA can help you start and grow your business. This event will also feature business tools and resources focused on helping veteran-owned small businesses. To RSVP to this virtual event call (559) 487-5791. You can find similar events in your area with your zip code by visiting the Small Business Administration Website.
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May is Older Americans Month
In recognition of Older Americans Month, DFPI’s Outreach Team will host its 2022 Senior Resource Fair on May 25th from 9 a.m. to 11 a.m. PST at the Mission Oaks Community Center in Carmichael. This event is free and open to the public. There will be numerous local health vendors, senior-related vendors, and door prizes. Breakfast and coffee will be provided by Aegis Living Carmichael. In addition, there will be cooking demonstrations sponsored by Oakmont of Carmichael, where attendees can receive free samples of
their meals. For more information, call (916) 972-0339.
It’s no secret that older Americans are considered prime targets for falling prey to fraud and scams. The DFPI’s mission is to protect California’s most vulnerable from financial abuse, deceptive, and unscrupulous business practices. Through our webinars and presentations, we bring awareness to financial fraud and scams to help prevent seniors from falling victim. And we provide tools to safeguard seniors’ personal finances and information. For a full list of DFPI’s senior-related resources, visit our Consumer Education and Outreach Webpage. If you are interested in requesting a presentation or educational materials, contact our Outreach Team at Outreach@dfpi.ca.gov.
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Become Smarter Than a Scammer
Attend a Senior Scam Stopper Seminar
Senior Scam Stopper℠ seminars, established by the Contractor’s State License Board (CSLB), have been offered throughout the state since 1999 in cooperation with California legislators, state and local agencies, law enforcement, district attorneys, and community-based organizations. These events advocate the importance of bringing awareness to consumers, especially seniors, about financial fraud and scams. Sessions feature expert speakers from local, state, and federal agencies, who present consumer related topics, including identity theft, auto repair, Medicare, PACE programs, foreign lotteries, mail fraud, and more.
Seniors are a vulnerable audience, often preyed upon by unlicensed or unscrupulous contractors. The seminars provide tools to recognize red flags when being solicited, how to protect yourself when hiring a contractor for home improvement, resources for assistance, and information on how file a complaint if you have been a victim of a construction-related scam.
TIPS to Remember:
- Before engaging in any business with a financial professional or institution, contact the DFPI toll free 866-275-2677 to verify their licensing status.
- Before you provide any personal information over the phone, remember they called you – ask yourself, do you really know who is on the other end of the line?
- Before you make a payment over the phone (credit/debit card) or online (PayPal/Venmo/etc.), verify that it is legitimate. Never make a payment to any person or institution that you do not already know or trust.
- Before responding to any email or text message, check the link carefully. Do not open any document attachments or click any weblinks or videos from unknown persons or institutions.
- Always go to the source yourself!
Look for upcoming Senior Scam Stopper events by subscribing to our newsletter or checking our events calendar. For a sample presentation, watch here: Senior Scam Stopper February 9.
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Biden Cancels $7B in Federal Student Loans for Disabled Students
The Biden administration recently announced that it has cancelled $7 billion in federal student loan debt for some 350,000 borrowers who receive benefits from the Total and Permanent Disability (TPD) discharge program through a data-sharing initiative between the Social Security Administration and the U.S. Department of Education. Learn more about Student Loan Cancellation for Disabled Students.
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Did You Make Student Loan Payments During the Pause and Need a Refund?
You may already know that payments on Direct Federal Student Loans are paused until after August 31, 2022, with no interest being charged or collected until that time. However, you may not know that if you made student loan payments during the COVID-19 forbearance period, which officially began on March 13, 2020, you can apply for a refund of those payments. For more information, visit How to Get a Refund on Your Student Loan Payments During COVID-19.
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World Password Day is May 5th
World Password Day (May 5) raises awareness of better password practices. Passwords are vital gatekeepers to our digital identities, allowing us to access online banking, shopping, social media, private work, and life communications.
Secure passwords are a must! Other than keeping your information offline (which is virtually impossible these days), unique and complex passwords will best protect your valuable information. Another tactic is changing your passwords every few months or any time you think your accounts have been compromised.
Use these tips:
- Change an old password to a “passphrase.”
- Turn on two-factor authentication on all your important accounts.
- Password protect your personal WI-FI.
- Don’t store passwords on your computer or phone, unless encrypted.
- Log off when you’re done with a program.
For more information, visit the Federal Trade Commission’s Password Protection Checklist.
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Press Releases
Adrian Diaz Appointed Deputy Commissioner for External Affairs
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Governor Newsom announced in March the appointment of Adrian Diaz as Deputy Commissioner of External Affairs for the Department of Financial Protection and Innovation (DFPI). He came aboard with DFPI on April 11th and will be based out of our San Francisco Office.
Adrian brings with him almost twenty years of experience in government relations with the University of California, Berkeley. Prior to that, he also worked with Governor Newsom, when Newsom was Mayor of San Francisco, as an Education Advisor and in his Communications Office.
Adrian will provide strategic advice on high-profile stakeholder engagement issues and managing new and existing external committees, workgroups, and task forces. He will also be supporting the Communications and Outreach Division and leading special projects that have a high level of scrutiny from the Legislature, the Governor’s office, and key stakeholders.
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Did you know?
We all receive telephone solicitations on our home phones and even our cell phones which sometimes identify as “unknown caller” or a number you don’t recognize. Now it looks like “spoofing” has added a new flair in which consumers (especially Verizon customers) are receiving text messages from their own numbers. To learn more, read: Scammers are texting you from your own number now, what to do about it. |
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Career Opportunities with DFPI
The DFPI is California’s primary regulatory authority overseeing financial services, products, and professionals. Its mission includes protecting consumers from potential abusive, deceptive, and unfair practices.
If you are passionate about wanting to make a difference in protecting consumers from financial fraud, join our team! Find out more about available positions on the DFPI’s Careers webpage.
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Do you like our newsletter?
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Contact Us
- Do you have any questions or comments about the Consumer Connection newsletter?
- Would you like to promote your organization’s programs and events in our newsletter?
- Would you like to make a request for a DFPI outreach professional to present at your event?
The DFPI Education & Outreach team is eager to hear from you. Please contact us at Outreach@dfpi.ca.gov.
For more information about DFPI’s Education & Outreach programs, events calendar, and other consumer protection resources, please visit the DFPI Education & Outreach webpage.
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