Fraudulent Email Scam Targeting Residents and Planning & Zoning Customers

Fraudulent emails have been reported, which falsely claim to be from the Planning & Zoning Department.  The emails appear to be targeting citizens who have submitted applications to the Planning & Zoning Department and include an attached invoice requesting that funds be wired to the sender.  The Town will never send an email asking for payment via wire transfers. 

Many localities have been targeted by similar campaigns.  Information from publicly available documents and meeting notices is being used, with fraudulent documents designed to look authentic. 

To ensure legitimacy of emails, we recommend the following:

• Review the sender’s email address.  All town emails end with @capecharles.org.
• Never respond to emails requesting payment via wire transfer.
• If in doubt of an email coming from the Planning & Zoning Department, please contact us at 757-331-3259, option 6.