The DFPI Consumer Connection | September 2022

¡Felicidades en el Mez Nacional de la Herencia Latina! DFPI Recognizes Outreach Partners for Latino Heritage Month

In celebration of Latino Heritage Month (Sept. 15 to Oct. 15), also known as National Hispanic Heritage Month, the DFPI recognizes the work of our Spanish language and Latino community outreach partners. These statewide community-based organizations help advance DFPI’s mission of reaching our most vulnerable Californians. Much of this work is supported by the CalMoneySmart Grant Program. For details on these organizations, their activities, and the communities they serve, visit the DFPI Newsroom. 

• The Coalition for Humane Immigrant Rights (CHIRLA) - Fresno, Kern, Los Angeles, Madera, Orange, San Bernardino, and Tulare Counties 

• El Sol Neighborhood Services - Inland Empire, locations throughout San Bernardino and Riverside 

• Family Assistance Program (FAP) - Victorville, San Bernardino, and Fontana 

• Haven Neighborhood Services - Los Angeles, Riverside, San Diego, and Ventura 

• Mexican Consulates in Sacramento, Los Angeles, and San Bernardino 

• SUMA Wealth Management - Online financial technology company providing programs and services statewide 

• United Way of Orange County - Orange County  

• Ventures - Central Coast

Fresh Start Initiative Returns Defaulted Borrowers to Good Standing 

The U.S. Department of Education announced earlier this year the Fresh Start program, which eliminates the negative effects of default for borrowers with defaulted federal student loans. Borrowers with federal student loans in default will be able to reenter current repayment status without any past-due balance and have other federal student aid benefits and protections restored. Borrowers will have one year from the end of the student loan payment pause, set to expire Dec. 31, to make payment arrangements. Borrowers with Fresh Start-eligible loans must make long-term payment arrangements. Those who do not make payment arrangements during the Fresh Start will again be subject to default collections. Payment arrangements can be made by visiting the Federal Student Aid Debt Resolution Webpage or contacting your loan servicer. For more information, read How Education Dept. Plans to Lift 7.5 Million Borrowers Out of Default. 

Five Student Loan Forgiveness Programs Available Now 

In addition to the Biden Administration’s Student Debt Relief Plan, several other student loan programs are available now that student loan borrowers may qualify for some student loan forgiveness. For more information, read What to Know about These 5 Student Loan Forgiveness Programs -- And How Biden Has Expanded Them. 

1. Public Service Loan Forgiveness Program - Allows certain government and nonprofit employees to seek federal student loan forgiveness after making 10 years of qualifying payments. The full remaining balance will be canceled. Some borrowers don't have to do anything, and the Education Department will automatically review their payments. But borrowers who currently have a non-qualifying loan, such as the Federal Family Education Loan (FFEL), must first consolidate their debt into a Direct loan and then submit a PSLF Waiver Form to show qualifying employment by Oct. 31, 2022. 

2. Teacher Loan Forgiveness Program - Cancels up to $17,500 in federal student loan debt for certain full-time teachers who have worked in a qualifying low-income elementary or secondary school for at least five consecutive years. Borrowers can potentially receive forgiveness under both the Teacher Loan Forgiveness Program and the Public Service Loan Forgiveness Program. 

3. Borrower Defense to Repayment Program - Delivers student debt relief to people who were defrauded by their college. There are some groups of students that the Department of Education has already determined are automatically eligible for borrower defense to repayment, like those who attended Corinthian Colleges, ITT Tech, and DeVry University. Other students may have to apply for the debt relief, demonstrating how the schools misled them or engaged in other misconduct. 

4. Income-Driven Repayment Plans (IDRs) - Are eligible for loan forgiveness after either 20 or 25 years of payments are made, depending on the specific plan. These repayment plans allow borrowers to avoid loan default by lowering their monthly payments based on their income and family size. The Department of Education will also now count time spent in forbearance of more than 12 consecutive months or for more than 36 months cumulative toward forgiveness under IDRs. The program is meant to help borrowers who were steered into forbearance, which allows for a temporary stop in payments, when they could have benefited from enrolling in an IDR plan. 

5. Total and Permanent Disability Discharge - The federal government will wipe away federal student loan debt for borrowers who are totally and permanently disabled. Borrowers must provide documentation from a physician, Social Security Administration, or U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs to show that they qualify. Last year, the Biden administration changed the rule so that the Department of Education can provide automatic discharges for disabled borrowers who are identified through administrative data matching with the Social Security Administration without borrowers submitting paperwork.

DFPI Issues Desist and Refrain Order for Student Debt Relief Company 

On Aug. 1, the DFPI took enforcement actions against Docu-Pros, an unlicensed San Diego student debt relief company, for engaging in unlicensed, unlawful, and deceptive practices under the Student Loan Servicing Act and the California Consumer Financial Protection Law. Docu-Pros violated the law by giving borrowers the impression that it was affiliated with a federal government agency, charging upfront fees for services, and using high-pressure sales tactics to sell its services while on calls to Californians with student loans. Under the enforcement action, Docu-Pros must cancel all debt relief, debt management, or debt consulting service agreements, refund all money collected, and pay a $2,500 penalty for each agreement between California residents. This action follows similar actions issued by the DFPI against Optima Advocates, Federal Document Assistance Center, and Higher-Level Processing Inc. For more information, read What Are Student Debt Relief Companies?

DFPI Supports Consumers with Multilanguage Services 

The role of a translator is indispensable in maintaining productive, positive, and clear communications. The DFPI celebrates International Translation Day (Sept. 30) by honoring the important contributions of the language and communications professionals who support the State’s mission to provide access to government services for all Californians, regardless of the language they use.  

Consumers are vital to the work of the DFPI, as you are our eyes and ears. If you know of someone breaking the law, let us know by calling toll-free (866) 275-2677 or emailing Ask.DFPI@dfpi.ca.gov. Our Consumer Services Office (CSO) is one of the few live call centers in state government with wait times often under 5 minutes. CSO officers can help: 

1. Walk you through how to file a complaint.  

2. Verify if a financial provider is licensed to do business in California. 

3. Assist with making the complaint process language accessible. 

4. Assist with identifying and contacting the appropriate regulator if the complaint is not within our jurisdiction. 

The DFPI provides the following translation services and multilanguage resources: 

Calls – When calling our CSO call center, there are pre-recorded messages in English and Spanish to assist callers with their options. CSO representatives can also call in a third-party translator to assist with live interpretation while interacting with callers. We offer live translation services in dozens of languages and never ask for your immigration status. 

Complaints - Anyone can file a complaint on the DFPI File A Complaint Webpage. Complaints can be filed online, or you can print out a complaint form and fill it out in English, Spanish, or in any language you are comfortable using. We’ll get it translated into English at no expense to you. 

Website - The DFPI website has auto translation capability powered by Google Translate. At the top right corner of our website, there is a drop-down menu which allows the user to convert the text on the website to whichever language they prefer. There are over 150 language options available.  

Printed Materials and PDFs - All DFPI consumer brochures and .pdf resources on our website are free and available in English and Spanish, with additional languages forthcoming. Visit the DFPI Consumer Brochures Webpage to browse and print .pdf versions of our brochures directly from our website. To request a hardcopy, email us at Outreach@dfpi.ca.gov.

Imposter Scams: Don’t Trust the Messenger 

Phishing, Smishing, and Vishing are all methods that imposters use to create a sense of urgency and try to get you to take action with a single goal in mind -- stealing your personal and financial information. If you didn’t make the call, initiate the text or email, be cautious. Trust your instincts. If it sounds too good to be true, it probably is. Never give out personal information unless you initiated the contact. Always go to the source yourself and verify all information before you take action.

Phishing is contacting you via email – Phishing emails often look as if they've been sent from a legitimate organization such as an internet service provider, bank, or mortgage company. These emails attempt to fool you into visiting a bogus website to reveal sensitive personal and/or financial information. If you get an official looking email, take a closer look for errors, hover over the link but don’t reply to the email, click on any links, or open any attachments, instead contact your financial institution directly. 

Vishing is through phone, robocall, or voicemail – Maybe you receive a call which says your credit card has activity in a different state or a large purchase was made and to call this number to verify it was you. Hang up on robocalls. Scammers are using illegal robocalls to pitch everything from low-priced health insurance, lower APR for credit cards, and refinancing options. Before you take action, stop and verify the information, and don’t call the number provided. 

Smishing is contacting you via Short Message Services (SMS) or text message – You receive a text message saying there has been some unusual activity identified with your online banking, and it is urgent to take action by logging into the provided link, or a text indicating your debit card is temporarily locked, please call us now to unlock. This is a ploy to gain access to your banking information. Do not reply, immediately call your financial institution to verify the information and call the legitimate number, such as from your account statement, and then delete the message. 

Watch Out for These Trending Imposter Scams 

Utility – The caller identifies themselves as an employee from a utility company about a delinquent debt and says services will be shut off by close of business today. To keep your services on, you need to pay right now with a check, credit card, or gift card. This is a red flag. Remember - if you are late on a bill, you will get notification in the mail. Remember - no utility company calls to remind you. 

Internal Revenue Service – You receive a call which shows IRS on your caller ID, indicating your taxes are due/late, and you need to provide payment immediately. Remember - no government agency will call you, especially the IRS. You will be contacted via letter.  

Social Security – You receive a call which says your Social Security number is frozen. Always verify directly with the Social Security Administration and do not respond to the caller. Hang up and call the Social Security Administration directly using a verifiable number if you have any questions. Remember - no government agency will call you. 

Financial Institution – You receive a call, email, or text from someone identifying themselves as an employee from a financial institution needing to verify or update records and starts asking for personal and/or financial information. Don’t let a phone call or email from someone posing as a bank or government employee entice you into borrowing money to help relieve financial stresses. Always contact your bank, credit union, mortgage lender, and servicers directly. Don’t give out any sensitive information like your name, address, Social Security Number, or banking information over the phone. 

Family Emergency/Grandkid Scams - We all know grandparents will do anything to help their grandchildren. Therefore, to receive a frightening call which sounds like this… “Grandma, grandpa it’s me – caller, in a panicked voice, explaining he/she has been arrested, and not to tell mom or dad, as they need you to send money immediately.” Then to make it more real, puts the phony arresting officer or lawyer on the line to instruct you on how to get the relative out of this situation, usually with gift cards, prepaid card, or money transfer through Western Union. Before you rush out to take action and depart with your money, verify all the information first to make sure no one is in actual danger.  

Tech Support Scams - Pop-ups are often used by criminals to spread malicious software. If you see unusual pop-ups or get a locked screen, disconnect from the internet and shut down your device immediately. You may receive a call from someone telling you that your computer has been hacked or has a virus and they can fix it for X amount of dollars. Before you believe the caller, do not allow access to your computer, contact a reputable computer expert (i.e. Geek Squad) or even a family member. 

Amazon Impersonators - Shopping online has become more prevalent since the pandemic, as it is easier and more convenient to shop from the comfort of your home. Be mindful there are copycat sites which appear to be real. When shopping online, check for the extension of the site (i.e. Amazon.coM), as there have been instances where a shopper keyed in all their financial payment information (i.e. credit/debit card) and received notification there was a problem and needed to re-enter. Unbeknownst to the shopper, the site was a copycat site, Amazon.coN. Be mindful to go to shopping sites yourself, make sure the ‘’s” is seen after http, and the closed lock icon displays as secure before you begin shopping. 

Empowering Seniors with Information and Resources 

National Grandparents Day (Sept. 11) is celebrated each year on the first Sunday after Labor Day. Grandparents Day is an opportunity to treasure the special connection we have with our grandparents and spend some quality family time together. It is also a good time to refresh our knowledge about the many resources available to support seniors’ financial independence and wellbeing. The following are DFPI recommended senior resources: 

• Subscribe to Consumer Connection Newsletter – Our free e-newsletter provides monthly updates on a wide range of senior related topics including scam and fraud prevention, reporting elder financial abuse, and financial empowerment for older adults. If you already subscribe, consider sharing this link with your friends and family. 

• DFPI Senior Consumer Resources - Visit our senior resources webpage for information especially selected to help protect seniors who are often targeted for fraud, scams, and other abuse. 

• Senior Scam Stopper Seminars - These virtual and in-person events are offered throughout the state and are organized in partnership with the DFPI, Contractor’s State License Board (CSLB), and various California elected officials. These events advocate the importance of bringing awareness to senior consumers about financial fraud and scams. Check out our Events Calendar for Senior Scam Stopper seminars and other presentations at senior centers and other locations where seniors gather near you.  

• Senior Gateway Website -  The Senior Gateway is a one-stop website intended to provide California seniors, their families, and caregivers with the information they need to connect to helpful services and resources, find answers, and solve problems. Visit their website to find information on preventing fraud, financial abuse, and common scams; avoiding and reporting abuse and neglect; health care information; your rights; and other resources. If you have questions, suggestions, or you would like to be listed as a resource, contact the Senior Gateway administrators at seniors@insurance.ca.gov. 

Staff Picks for International Literacy Day  

The DFPI is celebrating International Literacy Day (Sept. 8) by encouraging our colleagues and the public to enrich their financial literacy. Understanding money and how to manage it is fundamentally important to our financial wellbeing and building a resilient, equitable, and inclusive economy. Below is a list of selected staff picks. For more book titles, check out our International Literacy Day posts on Twitter, Facebook, and LinkedIn. 

Staff Picks about Financial Literacy: 

• How a Second Grader Beats Wall Street: Golden Rules Any Investor Can Learn by Allan S. Roth. 

• Rich Dad Poor Dad: What the Rich Teach Their Kids About Money That the Poor and Middle Class Do Not! by Robert T. Kiyosaki. 

• Smart Couples Finish Rich: 9 Steps to Creating a Rich Future for You and Your Partner by David Bach.  

• Your Money or Your Life: Transforming Your Relationship with Money and Achieving Financial Independence by Joe Dominguez and Vicki Robin. 

Staff Picks about Financial Policy: 

• Bad Paper: Chasing Debt from Wall Street to the Underworld by Jake Halpern. 

• The Color of Money: Black Banks and the Racial Wealth Gap by Mehrsa Baradaran. 

• The Color of Law: A Forgotten History of How Our Government Segregated America by Richard Rothstein. 

• Lower Ed: The Troubling Rise of For-Profit Colleges in the New Economy by Tressie McMillan Cottom. 

Staff Picks for Kids and Teens:  

• The Money Club: A Teenage Guide to Financial Literacy by Jasmine Brown. 

• Real World Money Lessons for Kids and Teens by Adam Toren and Matthew Toren. 

• Show Me the Money: Big Questions About Finance by Alvin Hall. 

• Why Didn’t They Teach Me This in School? by Cary Siegel. 

It's National Preparedness Month. Are you Ready? 

National Preparedness Month is great time to get ready for whatever may come your way. This year’s heat waves, wildfires, violent storms, and extreme flooding are proof that severe weather and natural disasters can happen anytime, anywhere, and with little warning. Making a plan is the best way to protect yourself, your family, and your home. Start your planning with the DFPI Disaster Relief Resources Webpage, which has practical information to help you prepare for, deal with, and recover from a weather or wildfire emergency. Most resources are available in English and Spanish.  

Before disaster strikes, it’s important to make sure you’re prepared. Bookmark these sites, so if severe weather or a wildfire happens near you, you can come back for advice and information about your rights: 

• Download, share, and use the DFPI’s Important Documents Checklist (PDF).  

• Descargue, comparta y utilice nuestra lista de verificación de documentos importantes (PDF). 

• Make copies, and if possible, digitize, all important files, receipts, and records. 

• Prepare your finances and set up an emergency savings plan How to save for emergencies and the future. 

Natural disasters always bring out people’s generosity, but they also bring out fraudsters who prey on it. As usual, they are after your money and personal information. In the aftermath of a disaster, people often are desperate to get back on their feet and can become prime targets for scams. These often take the form of fake charities that steal victims’ donations or their personal information. Follow these tips to avoid disaster related cons: 

• Confirm that organizations you donate to are legitimate. Watchdog groups like CharityWatch, CharityNavigator, and the Better Business Bureau are good places to start. 

• Google the charity’s name and the word “scam” to see if others have had bad experiences. 

• Beware of phone solicitors pressuring you to give money immediately. Legitimate charities don’t do this. 

• Never send donations through wire transfer, cash, or a gift card. Requests for these hard-to-trace forms of payment are a hallmark of scammers. 

• Delete solicitation emails with attachments, which may contain malware.

Voter Registration for the 2022 Election  

National Voter Registration Day (Sept. 20), is dedicated to educating Americans on one of our most precious rights — the right to vote. The 2022 Midterm Election will be held on Nov. 8. It is important now more than ever that you check your registration status and register, so that you are able to vote in November. The last day to register to vote for the November 8 Election is Oct. 24. To register to vote, visit the California Secretary of State’s Voter Registration Webpage. In California, you can vote in person, by mail, or by ballot drop box. All California active registered voters will receive a vote-by-mail ballot for the November 8 Election. Your county elections office will begin mailing ballots no later than Oct. 10, 2022. For details, visit the California Secretary of State’s Vote by Mail Webpage.

DFPI’s Commissioner Hewlett Unanimously Confirmed by Senate

DFPI’s Commissioner Clothilde V. Hewlett appeared for her Senate Rules Committee confirmation hearing for the position of DFPI Commissioner on Aug. 10. The Committee voted unanimously 5-0 to recommend her to the full Senate for approval. On Aug. 26, during a floor session, the Senate took up her appointment as Commissioner of the Department and officially and unanimously confirmed with a 39-0 bipartisan vote. “It is an honor to lead a team of dedicated public servants committed to advancing the mission to protect consumers, and foster trust, innovation, and fairness in the financial marketplace,” said Commissioner Hewlett. “I look forward to our continued partnership to advance the critically important work of the Department on behalf of all Californians.”

DFPI Awards Nearly $2M to CalMoneySmart Grantees  

The DFPI announced on Aug. 9 the award recipients of nearly $2 million in CalMoneySmart grants to support free financial education and empowerment programs. The DFPI launched the third round of CalMoneySmart grants in Apr. 2022 and received 128 grant proposals from state and national nonprofits. A committee reviewed, analyzed, and scored each grant proposal on eligibility and program effectiveness, and recommended awarding grant dollars to 12 nonprofits. The 2022-23 CalMoneySmart grantees represent communities and financial education nonprofits throughout California, serving unbanked households across 27 counties. A full list of recipients and grant amounts is provided in the Press Release. For additional information, visit the CalMoneySmart Webpage or contact CalMoneySmart@dfpi.ca.gov.

DFPI Initiates Revocation of Celsius Lending LLC’s CFL Lending License, Issues Consumer Alert Regarding Crypto-Interest Accounts 

On Aug. 19, 2022, the DFPI issued a notice to Celsius Lending LLC that the DFPI intends to revoke its California Financing Law lender’s license and has immediately suspended its license pending resolution of the revocation action. As a result of a still-ongoing DFPI regulatory exam, the Department accuses Celsius Lending of engaging in over 55,000 violations of the CFL, including making unlicensed loans prior to becoming licensed, engaging in deceptive advertising, making untrue statements to the Commissioner in the course of licensing, contracting for unlawful prepayment penalties, charging excess liquidation charges, and various other illegal contract terms and failures to make required disclosures to consumer borrowers beginning from Day 1 of its licensure in Aug. 2021. Celsius Lending reports to the DFPI that it has already voluntarily ceased new lending activity as of the filing of the company’s bankruptcy petition as of Jul. 13, 2022.  

The DFPI’s order seeking the revocation of Celsius Lending’s CFL license comes in addition to the DFPI’s order on Aug. 8, 2022, to Celsius Network and its CEO, Alex Mashinsky, for making material misrepresentations and omissions in the offer of crypto interest accounts and without qualifying those accounts as securities in compliance with California law. The DFPI has issued a Consumer Alert to warn California consumers and investors that many crypto-interest account providers may not have adequately disclosed risks customers face when they deposit crypto assets onto these platforms. Consumers are encouraged to exercise extreme caution before responding to any solicitation offering investment or financial services. California customers of crypto-interest account providers that have slowed or paused withdrawals or transfers of crypto assets are encouraged to contact the DFPI at Ask.DFPI@dfpi.ca.gov or call toll-free at (866) 275-2677. To file a formal complaint, visit the DFPI File a Complaint Webpage. 

DFPI Issues Buy Now, Pay Later Consumer Alert 

The DFPI has entered a settlement with Florida-based point-of-sale lender Four Technologies, Inc. The company has agreed to stop issuing illegal loans, pay $2,500 in penalties, and refund over $13,000 in fees. These refunds represent the fees Four Technologies collected from consumers in transactions the DFPI concluded were illegal loans. The DFPI continues to investigate companies offering Buy Now, Pay Later (BNPL) products. In 2020, the DFPI entered similar settlements with BNPL companies Quadpay, Sezzle, Afterpay US, and Klarna. For details, read Buy Now, Pay Later Company Agrees to Cease Illegal Loans, Pay Refunds in Settlement. 

DFPI Posts 2021 California Financing Law Annual Report 

On Aug. 5, the Business, Consumer Services and Housing Agency approved the DFPI’s California Financing Law (CFL) Aggregated Annual Report. The law does not dictate a specific publication date. (Financial Code, Section 22160). The full report is posted on the DFPI website 2021 Annual Report of Operation of Finance Lenders, Brokers, and PACE Administrators Licensed Under the California Financing Law.