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Houston Planning Department warns applicants about phishing emails tied to plat approvals
Summary
Director Tran told the Planning Commission the department has identified malicious phishing emails impersonating city staff and requesting payment for plat approval; IT is investigating and applicants are urged to verify communications by phone.
The Houston Planning and Development Department alerted applicants and the public that malicious phishing emails are circulating that appear to be from city staff and request payment in exchange for plat approval.
Director Tran told the Planning Commission on June 12 that the planning department does not send settlement invoices or request payment via email as part of plat review, and that the city’s IT department is investigating the matter. "For clarification, please be advised that the planning department does not send such emails with invoices and requests for payment," Tran said during the director’s report.
Tran said the phishing messages target applicants submitting development plat variances and urged anyone who receives a suspicious email to notify the planning department or the planner they have been working with. He provided the Planning and Development Department main line, (832) 393-6600, and the planner-of-the-day line, (832) 393-6624, and directed applicants to the department website, Houstonplanning.com, for updates.
The warning was relayed during the routine director’s report early in the meeting and followed scheduled agenda business; no specific instances of financial loss were reported at the meeting. Tran recommended that recipients do not open attachments or respond to those emails and instead verify communications by calling the department directly.
The commission did not take formal action on the announcement; the item was informational. The department said IT is investigating and that more information will be provided through the department’s normal channels if new details emerge.
The advisory is intended for developers, applicants, and community members who interact with planning staff as part of plat submittals and variance requests. It applies to email-based communications and does not change existing procedures for submitting materials or fees in person or through established city payment portals.
