Bogus invoices sent via email; report any suspicious communication you may receive
information released
Chelan County Community Development is alerting the public to an email scam reported recently by a local resident.
This week, a resident who was applying to the county for a Comprehensive Plan amendment was emailed an invoice for $5,000. The scam included information about the application, including parcel numbers, as well as the Chelan County logo and the name of the Community Development director, Deanna Walter.
Community Development reminds its customers that it will never send you an invoice via email.
Land use application fees are paid for at the time of application, either in person at Community Development’s counter or online via a customer’s personal account. Final building permit fees are collected in the same manner, or Community Development will call you directly for payment.
“These scams are getting harder and harder to detect, especially because of the availability of public records and public notices of applications,” Community Development Director Deanna Walter said. “Just remember that my department will never send you an invoice through your email.”
In addition, residents who suspect a fraudulent email should look for telling signs of phishing scams, including misspellings, suspicious email addresses and links, and requests for payments via wire transfers. This particular scam had an incorrect office address and identified the Planning Commission. People are also reminded to never share personal or financial information via email.
To report an email scam, people should contact the FBI’s Internet Crime Complaint Center at http://www.ic3.gov.
If you receive an email from the department and are suspicious of its contents or nature, call Community Development at 509-667-6225.
