SFBLOC Issues Urgent Alert: Apparent Fraudulent CA Reparations Website Targeting Black Communities

SAN FRANCISCO - May 14, 2025 - PRLog -- Posted Courtesy of Wright Enterprises Community Spotlight ~San Francisco ~Dallas

The San Francisco Black-Led Organizations Coalition (SFBLOC) is issuing an urgent statewide alert to California Black residents, community leaders, and the media regarding an apparently fraudulent website — https://www.reparationsbenefits.com— that appears to falsely claim it offers access to California reparations benefits. This site is being widely shared across Black communities in California through social media, text messages, and email links, exploiting public trust and the historic momentum of the California Reparations Task Force's work.

The website in question mimics official government web pages and solicits sensitive personal information — including Social Security numbers, bank details, and identification documents — under the misleading premise that individuals can immediately register (45 Seconds) to qualify for reparations payments. SFBLOC strongly urges the public to avoid interacting with this website or submitting any personal or financial information.

"Black Californians deserve transparency and dignity in this historic reparations process," said Maurice Rivers, Executive Director, OMI Cultural Participation Project, a founding member of  SFBLOC. "This kind of exploitation is not only unethical — it is a predatory attack on a community already navigating systemic injustice. We urge media, elected officials, and technology platforms to act swiftly and help us stop this activity before further harm is done."

Key Warnings from SFBLOC:

• There is currently no official reparations payment portal for Black Californians. The state has not approved or launched any application, registration, or disbursement mechanism.
• Do not share personal or financial data with any site that is not a verified .gov or official state-affiliated domain.
• Report suspicious websites to the California Department of Justice's Public Inquiry Unit.

If You Believe You've Been Targeted:

If you interacted with [https://www.reparationsbenefits.com (https://www.reparationsbenefits.com/?fbclid=IwZXh0bgNhZW0...)] or believe you've provided personal information, take the following immediate steps:

• File a complaint with the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) at reportfraud.ftc.gov.
• Freeze your credit through all three major credit bureaus: Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion.
• Notify your financial institution and monitor all accounts for suspicious activity.

SFBLOC is actively working with local organizations, elected officials, and legal experts to monitor and investigate reports related to this and similar deceptive schemes.  SFBLOC remains committed to protecting Black Californians and ensuring the reparations process proceeds with integrity, transparency, and justice.

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About SFBLOC:
The San Francisco Black-Led Organizations Coalition is a community-based alliance dedicated to economic justice, political empowerment, and cultural uplift for Black communities across San Francisco. Through education, advocacy, and organizing, SFBLOC fights for equity and protection for present and future generations.