Pasadena Warns of Fake Public Health Calls; City Says No Local Cases Reported

PASADENA, Calif. — Pasadena’s Public Health Department issued a warning on October 28 about callers posing as health officials and seeking personal or financial information. The city emphasized an important distinction: it had not received reports of this particular scam in Pasadena, although the California Department of Public Health had received reports elsewhere.

What the reported calls sound like

According to the city’s alert, some callers claim a prescription has been filled under the recipient’s name and demand information to supposedly correct the record. Others transfer the call to someone impersonating law enforcement, sometimes using a video call and a staged police setting. The city says callers may cite invented badge numbers, spoof official telephone numbers, pressure people with threats, or ask them to install messaging applications.

The warning is not evidence that a Pasadena resident has been victimized. It is a precaution based on reports received by state health authorities.

How residents can check a suspicious contact

Do not provide Social Security, bank, credit-card or other unrelated personal information. The city says legitimate public-health contact tracing does not require such information.
End the suspicious call rather than following a transfer or a link supplied by the caller. Independently contact the California Department of Public Health at (916) 558-1784.
Anyone who believes they experienced fraud can contact Pasadena Police at (626) 744-4241 and file a report with the Federal Trade Commission.

Health officials sometimes make legitimate calls, so an unfamiliar number alone is not proof of fraud. The safer distinction is whether the caller pressures you to share sensitive information or make a payment that has no legitimate connection to a health inquiry.

Pasadena residents can review the city’s October 28 public-health alert for the original warning. For related consumer guidance, see California58’s guide to impersonation emails and phishing messages.

Source: City of Pasadena Public Health Department, October 28, 2026. California58 distinguishes the city’s warning from any confirmed local case.

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