Physical Therapy Board of California


Fraud Scam Alert


The Physical Therapy Board of California (PTBC) is aware of an attempted fraud scheme aimed at licensees. In the scheme, scam artists identify themselves as PTBC staff members or investigators and notify the licensee that they are under investigation, that their license may be suspended, or that an arrest warrant has been issued in the licensee’s name, and then they will demand money.

In some instances, scam artists identify themselves as other entities including local police, the Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA) or the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI).

The callers may be “spoofing” PTBC telephone numbers to make the calls appear to be coming from PTBC.

PTBC staff members or investigators will never contact licensees demanding money or payment of any form or personalized information without conducting an official investigation or inquiry. If you receive such a call, please refuse the demand for payment.

Please also consider the following:

  • NEVER disclose any personal information, i.e., social security numbers, date of births, or credit/debit card numbers.
  • If you receive a call, contact the PTBC directly at (916) 561-8215 to inquire if an official investigation is being conducted.
  • If the caller is stating they are from the DEA, report the scam using the DEA’s Extortion Scam online reporting form: https://www.dea.gov/scam-alert
  • If the caller is stating they are from the FBI, report the scam using the FBI’s Internet Crime Complaint Center reporting form: https://www.ic3.gov/default.aspx
  • If the phone number of the caller appears to be a PTBC telephone number, report the scam using the Federal Communications Commission’s consumer complaint form: https://consumercomplaints.fcc.gov/hc/en-us/articles/115002234203-Unwanted-Calls-Phone-