I just received an e-mail with the following message and wanted to share it with you all immediately.

The California Board of Barbering and Cosmetology (Cal-BBC) has posted a warning on their website, of a scam targeting beauty licensees in this state. Please pass this warning on to every California licensee you know.

Here’s the official Cal-BBC statement.

Licensing Alert

A business called the California License Renewal Service has been mailing renewal notices to Board of Barbering and Cosmetology licensees.

The California License Renewal Service is neither associated with nor endorsed in any way by the Board of Barbering and Cosmetology. The Board will mail you its own notice within 90 days of your license’s expiration date with instructions on how to file for renewal directly with the Board. There is no service charge associated with filing your renewal directly with the Board.

This business is operating out of a postal service box office and there is no record with the County of Sacramento for a fictitious business application to operate in Sacramento County. A search of the Secretary of State website California Business Portal indicates that there is no corporate, LP or LLC entity by the name of California License Renewal Service. The principals of this entity are unknown to the Board. The notice offers to file the licensee’s renewal application and fee with the Board in exchange for a “service fee” of up to $40.

Copy of the bogus bill:  DO NOT PAY THIS!

— Hannah