In the last several weeks, California's Department of Financial Protection and Innovation (fka the Department of Business Oversight) has issued a number of consumer alerts involving companies fraudulently claiming to hold a DFPI license.  For example, the department earlier this week warned:

"CreditEnrollmentCenter.net lists DFPI lending license number 60DBO-41845 at the bottom of every page.  This license number actually belongs to the DFPI-licensed finance lender Greenlink Financial, and is not affiliated with this website."

This follows the Department's caution from the week before about another company:

"The California Department of Financial Protection and Innovation (DFPI) has received information that a company calling itself 'Prestige ESR Service LLC' is using the address of a licensed escrow company 'Prestige Escrow Inc.,' located at 16933 Parthenia Street, Suite 210, Northridge, CA 91343.  The company 'Prestige ESR Service LLC' does not have a DFPI license to conduct escrow activity."

Consumers can check whether a financial service provider is licensed in California can go to the DFPI website at www.dfpi.ca.gov or call 1-866-275-2677.