Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Public Safety Cybersecurity topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
City staff warns Rolling Hills Estates residents about phishing emails impersonating planning department
Summary
City planning staff alerted residents that a phishing email impersonating planning staff (planning.rolling@usa.com) has circulated asking for payment; staff urged recipients to call City Hall at (310) 377-1521 before responding and not to provide Social Security, credit card information or send checks without verification.
City planning staff warned meeting attendees that a phishing email is circulating among people who previously presented projects to the Rolling Hills Estates Planning Commission. The staff member, who identified themself as city manager and planning director during remarks, said the fraudulent message claimed to authorize plans and requested payment, instructing recipients to reply to an apparent staff email address to receive an invoice.
Staff urged caution: do not release Social Security numbers, credit-card information or send payments to a PO box or mailbox in response to unsolicited emails. If residents are unsure whether an email is authentic, staff advised calling City Hall at (310) 377-1521 to verify communications before acting. The warning emphasized that the phishing messages appear to be generated using increasingly sophisticated AI tools and that recipients should verify any unusual payment requests.
The notice was delivered as a matter from staff near the end of the meeting; commissioners acknowledged the alert and the meeting adjourned.
Residents who have concerns or who received suspicious emails should contact City Hall at the number provided and avoid interacting with the suspicious email.
