The California Department of Financial Protection and Innovation (DFPI) has been notified that an entity is using an unofficial form, designed to appear as a legitimate escrow form, to pose as the DFPI to collect an individual”s information and payment.
The fraudulent form uses the DFPI”s logo and office address, but does not list a phone number, email address, or website. Instead, it asks for personal information and “a processing fee of $1250.”
The DFPI urges consumers and businesses to exercise extreme caution before responding to any solicitation that askes for personal information or payment. To check whether a form you receive is a legitimate DFPI form, users may contact the Consumer Services Office at [email protected] or call toll-free at (866) 275-2677.
If a consumer believes a person or company has violated state law or acted improperly regarding a consumer financial product or service, they may file a formal complaint with the DFPI at https://dfpi.ca.gov//file-a-complaint.