Scammers are sending emails to residents involved in planning, zoning or land-use applications pretending to be Forest Lake city planning and zoning staff members, the city said Friday.
The city said the emails that appear to come from the Forest Lake Planning Department or Planning Commission include applicant names, real property addresses, parcel numbers, and project details, all of which make the emails appear legitimate.
The emails are asking people to pay invoices by wire transfer, often saying they need “prompt settlement of the invoice,” city officials warned in a press release Friday.
City officials said the city will never request payment by wire transfer through email. All legitimate payments are handled directly through the city with official payment methods. In addition, all official city emails will come from email addresses that end in: @ci.forest-lake.mn.us.
If anyone receives a suspected scam email, the city asks that residents don’t click any links within the email and don’t send money. All messages about an application or payment needs can be verified by contacting the Forest Lake Community Development Department at 651-209-9731.
Any resident that has sent money in response to the scam emails should call the Forest Lake Police Department at 651-464-5877.
The press release said that some of the scam emails contain the following details:
Are signed by City Planner Michael Birchland, Planning & Zoning Commission Chair Paul Girard. or other member of the Community Development Department.
Claim payment is due for an application review or approval fee.
Ask recipients to reply for wire transfer payment instructions.
Come from an email address ending in @usa.com.
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