Keeping Lifeline service active matters to every recipient. Unfortunately, unauthorized transfers are a growing issue across the community, and many subscribers, including those in California, have been affected.
This happens when another person uses your personal information to sign up for service with a different provider without your knowledge or consent. The result is an immediate interruption to your service and a difficult process to get back on track.
1. The Risks of an Unauthorized Transfer
Unauthorized transfer, or port out scam, means your Lifeline service is transferred without your permission.
When you are a victim of an unauthorized transfer, the consequences can be immediate and disruptive:
- Your phone service is instantly interrupted, preventing you from making calls, sending texts, or using data.
- It can be challenging to get your service back with your original provider, potentially leaving you without a connection for an extended period.
2. Additional Step to Secure Lifeline Benefits for California Lifeline Participants
To protect customers from unauthorized transfers, the California Lifeline service transfer process will be much stricter starting from October 2025:
- A new, mandatory Consent to Transfer form will be required.
- You must provide the name of your current service provider.
- If you provide the wrong provider name, your ability to switch will be temporarily frozen for at least 24 hours.
3. How To Find Your Current Service Provider?
Below are some simple steps you can follow to verify your current Lifeline provider.
Option 1: Visit the official California Lifeline website
Step 1: Create a New Account or Log In
If you are registering for the first time:
Complete the registration form by providing your personal information as required.
Please note that the phone number you provide must be your Lifeline phone number.
If you are an active wireless Lifeline subscriber, simply text REGISTER from your Lifeline phone to 345345, and California Lifeline will send you a link to skip this page.
If you already have an account:
Simply log in using your email address or phone number associated with your account.
Step 2: Find your provider information
After logging in, you will be directed to your dashboard. Your current service provider information will be located in the bottom-right corner of the dashboard.
Option 2: Call California Lifeline Administrator
You can ask about your current provider by calling the California LifeLine Administrator and following the automated voice instructions.
Important: To check your current provider, you must call from your Lifeline phone.
Hours of Operation:
- Monday to Friday, 7:00 AM – 7:00 PM (Pacific Time)
- Closed on weekends and federal holidays
Phone Numbers:
| Main General Number | 1-866-272-0357 |
| English | 1-866-272-0349 |
| Spanish | 1-866-272-0350 |
| Lao/Hmong | 1-866-272-0351 |
| Khmer (Cambodian) | 1-866-272-0352 |
| Tagalog | 1-866-272-0353 |
| Korean | 1-866-272-0354 |
| Vietnamese | 1-866-272-0355 |
| Chinese (Mandarin/Cantonese) | 1-866-272-0356 |
| Japanese | 1-866-296-0860 |
| TTY Number | 866-272-0358 |
4. How to Prevent Future Unauthorized Transfers
Being vigilant is the best way to prevent your service from being transferred without your permission.
Be Aware of Scams
- AirTalk Wireless does not employ field agents outside of official store locations. Anyone claiming to be an AirTalk agent in your community is not affiliated with our company. You can always verify our store locations by visiting our Store Locator.
- Be very cautious of any offer for a “free phone or service.” Always be sure of what you are signing up for and who you are signing up with, as this could affect your service with AirTalk.
Protect Your Information
- Safeguard Personal Information. Never share your personal details, account numbers, or PINs with unverified sources. Be suspicious of unsolicited calls, emails, or texts asking for this information.
- Use Strong Passwords. Create unique, complex passwords for your wireless account and change them regularly. And make sure you don’t forget these in case of emergencies.
- Tell Your Family. Educate your family members to help them gain awareness of scams and understand that Lifeline benefits are limited to one per household. This canprevent both unauthorized transfers and accidental sign-ups that could affect your service.
If You Receive a Transfer-Out Notice
If you receive a notice from AirTalk stating your benefit was transferred out while you did not authorize this:
- Sign the Consent to Transfer with AirTalk. Sign the consent to transfer form with AirTalk immediately to restore your service.
- Identify and reach out to the provider that performed the unauthorized transfer. Reach out to the provider that performed the unauthorized transfer directly to report and dispute any unauthorized charges.
- Report the Incident. Contact the Third-Party Administrator (TPA) to report the incident directly. You can contact the California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) to file a formal complaint.
- Phone: 1-800-366-4782
- Hours: Monday-Friday, 8:30 a.m. – 4:30 p.m.
Make sure to follow AirTalk Wireless to catch up with the latest updates and guarantee your benefits are secured!