~ The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) has issued a warning to the public regarding a phishing scam that involves criminals impersonating city and county officials. The scam targets individuals who are in the process of applying for local government planning and zoning applications and permits.

According to the FBI, the criminals use publicly available information about these applications and permits to identify potential victims. They then send fraudulent emails that appear to come from legitimate city or county officials, instructing victims to pay invoices for fees related to their applications and permits. The payments are requested through wire transfer, peer-to-peer payment, or cryptocurrency.

The City of Madison has also become aware of this scam, with reports of fraudulent emails circulating locally. These emails falsely claim to be from the City's Planning Division Director or other staff members from the Planning or Zoning departments. Last year, when this scam first emerged, the City took action by posting warnings on key webpages related to development and providing details about legitimate payment methods for application fees. Additionally, applicant email addresses have been redacted on certain documents posted online.

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To protect themselves from falling victim to this scam, the City advises individuals to carefully check the email address of any communication they receive. Legitimate emails from the City will always come from an "@cityofmadison.com" address. If an email comes from any other domain, it is likely fraudulent.

Furthermore, the City of Madison does not request payments via wire transfer or cryptocurrency. Individuals should always verify the publicly listed phone number and mailing address for City agencies before making any payments.

Legitimate permit fees can be paid through various methods such as online through the City's official Licenses & Permits portal, in-person at City offices, by check via mail, or by credit card over the phone.

If there are any doubts about the legitimacy of a request for payment or the status of an application's approval, individuals are encouraged to independently verify with the City agency handling their application.

The FBI and the City of Madison urge the public to remain vigilant and cautious when receiving emails or requests for payment related to local government planning and zoning applications and permits. By following these precautions, individuals can protect themselves from falling victim to this phishing scam.

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