SFPD Issues Warning About Fraudulent Door-to-Door Visitors (Updated re: Environmental Health Inspections of SROs) 20-036(a)
The San Francisco Police Department is receiving information about subjects who may be going door to door claiming to be employees of the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) or the San Francisco Department of Public Health (DPH). These subjects are apparently asking for entry into residences to conduct inspections or searches.
We want the public to know that the San Francisco Department of Public Health (DPH) is sending health inspectors to conduct inspections at SRO hotels. SRO building owners and managers were notified in advance that health inspectors will be asking for entry to enforce Health Order C19-04. Under this order, each of the approximately 500 SROs will be checked to see if:
- the order has been posted and delivered to each tenant
- the community areas are being cleaned and disinfected daily and a cleaning log is being maintained
- the bathrooms have soap for all sinks or sanitizer if there is no sink.
DPH health inspectors can validate their identity by presenting their City Disaster Service Worker (DSW) ID, DPH employee ID, and Health Inspector Badge.
Additionally, City Disaster Services Workers and volunteers are placing informational door hangers in various neighborhoods. These persons will have City identification, and will not ask for permission to enter any residences.
Neither the CDC nor SFDPH have personnel going door-to-door conducting inspections of private residences.
As for other City residents who are not living in or managing an SRO building, if someone claiming to be with the DPH or Center for Disease Control (CDC) calls at your door, do not let them in. Call 9-1-1 and provide the dispatcher with the suspect's description and as much detail as possible.