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Planning staff warns applicants about scam emails impersonating city planning office
Summary
Staff reported a fraudulent invoice email using a look‑alike address and an applicant's name; police were notified and staff plans a public notice to warn applicants not to pay invoices without confirming city contact details.
Planning staff warned meeting attendees that applicants have received a fraudulent email impersonating city planning personnel and requesting payment of an attached invoice.
Planning staff member Arnie described the email: "Somebody had the audacity to go on to our website, find the details out for the sign that you approved earlier today...and said, your project with all the details has been preliminary approved. Please submit the payment for the invoice, and there was an invoice attached." Staff said the fake sending address used a look‑alike domain (lexingtonva.gov@usa.com) and that the impersonation referenced a named city planning official.
Staff told the commission the targeted applicants contacted the office, recognized the invoice was wrong, and that staff notified the police. Planning staff said the office will prepare a public service announcement to warn applicants not to pay invoices they did not request and to verify city emails and invoice details with the planning office.
Why it matters: staff emphasized the need for applicants to verify requests for payment and described the scam as increasingly sophisticated because the fraudster had extracted project details from posted meeting materials.
Next steps: the planning office notified police and plans a public notice to applicants and applicants of pending projects advising them to confirm invoices and payment instructions with the planning department before remitting funds.
