The scam claims that President Barack Obama is providing credits or applying payments to utility bills. In some cases, scammers have asked for social security numbers in order to allow for credits or to apply payments to customers’ utility bills, presenting an identity-theft risk. According to reports, scammers have visited customers in person, posted fliers and used social media and texting to send messages claiming that President Obama will provide a credit or directly pay utility bills.

SoCalGas wants to assure customers that SoCalGas employees carry proper identification when called out to any job. The company also does not randomly call or text customers asking for social security or other information. Customers should verify the employee’s proper uniform and identification before letting anyone in the home or on their property. Customer safety is a top priority for SoCalGas and employees will always be happy to wait while the customer confirms their identity.

Here are some tips to help customers identify SoCalGas employees:

• Be vigilant and question anyone who presents themselves as a representative of the utility.

• SoCalGas workers who perform in-home appliance services, work on gas meters or work on gas pipelines wear uniforms. However, some other employees do not. Always ask for identification before allowing anyone inside the home or on the property.

• The majority of authorized SoCalGas employees will be in uniform with company logo and carry an official employee badge. Most field employees also drive a company vehicle.

• Most of the time a SoCalGas employee visits a home or business in response to a service request. If no one scheduled an appointment, call SoCalGas before allowing anyone inside the home or property

• Never leave the house unlocked and unattended. SoCalGas does not ask customers to leave their homes unattended.

• To verify the authenticity of anyone claiming to be a representative of SoCalGas, customers are encouraged to ask for proper identification or call the utility at 1-800-427-2200 (or 1-800-342-4545 in Spanish). SoCalGas customer service representatives are available 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

According to police, a search of the room at an undisclosed hotel found stolen checks and counterfeiting equipment.

Melandre Tavanlar, 38, of Woodland Hills, Michael Camacho, 2, Kimberly Mejia, 21, and Percilla Gomez, 22, all of Los Angeles, were arrested. They were charged with check forgery, identity theft, and possession of a controlled substance.

Assemblyman Jeff Gorell (R) announced that Assembly Republican Leader Connie Conway appointed him as Outreach Chair on the Assembly Republican Leadership Team.

“It’s an honor to be chosen for this new position,” Gorell said. “Assembly Republicans have proposed some reasonable and responsible policy solutions that should be taken directly to Californians for their evaluation. I am prepared to help accomplish that task.”

“During a time when the state is dealing with past budget failures, and Californians are receiving mixed messages from Sacramento about how the problems should be fixed, the Republican goal of defining our state’s priorities and encouraging financial responsibility is a message the public is eager to discuss.”

The Republican Outreach Chair is a newly-created position within the Caucus Leadership Team, charged with coordinating the Caucus’s efforts to promote its legislative priorities and messaging beyond Sacramento, to local constituents, third party groups and non-traditional audiences for Republicans.  Assemblyman Gorell will bring his extensive experience in communications and public affairs to oversee the Caucus outreach efforts.

“Lieutenant Commander Gorell’s distinguished career as a small businessman, military officer, professor, deputy district attorney and writer makes him the ideal person for this newly created position,” said Assembly Republican Leader Connie Conway.  “His extensive experience in communications will help our caucus convey our message of hope and opportunity to all Californians.”

Assemblyman Jeff Gorell represents the 37th Assembly District and is presently a member of the Assembly Accountability and Administrative Review, Judiciary, Labor and Employment, Utilities and Commerce and Veterans Affairs Committees.  A Lt. Commander in the U.S. Navy Reserve, he recently returned from a year-long active duty assignment in Afghanistan.

The planned weekend search for missing Fox executive Gavin Smith has been canceled after police were unable to determine a specific location to investigate.

“After consultations between the L.A. County Sheriff’s Department and the Gavin Smith family, it has been decided that there will be NO search this weekend,” said Howard Bragman, the Smith’s media relations advisor, said in a statement to the Los Angeles Times. ”There is not a specific area of defined interest to make this effort productive at this time.”

The Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department  has been trying to locate a Gavin Smith since May 2. Smith, 57, a film executive at a Fox office in Calabasas was last seen in Oak Park between 9:00 p.m. and 10:00 p.m. on Tuesday, May 1st.

On Thursday, May 10, departmental spokesperson Steve Whitmore clarified that additional detectives had been added to the case. He also said that all missing persons investigations are handled by the homicide bureau and that nothing had been changed in the classification of the case.

Smith reportedly left in a black 2000 Mercedes E500 (the model number on the back of the car was changed to E500 although the car is actually a 420E), that has padded storage racks on roof, tinted windows and a California license plate #6EKT044.

The Smith family will not disclose why Smith was staying with a family friend in Oak Park rather than at his residence in West Hills. The Smith family told ABC News that Smith’s belongings, including a cell phone charger and shaving equipment were left at the friend’s house. Attempts to track Smith’s cell phone and credit cards have proved unsuccessful.

Smith’s wife called police after Smith failed to pickup his youngest son from school.

Smith is described as being 6′ 06″, 210 lbs., and has grey hair with blonde highlights, green eyes, and a goatee. He was last seen wearing purple pants.

On the family website, Smith’s son post, “Hey Everybody this is Evan Smith, Gavin’s eldest son. Thank you so much for visiting the page and report any information or anything at all on this blog so we can all coordinate to help find my DAD!!! You all have been such a help.”

To view the site, go here.