Phishing Emailing Reporting Impersonating County and City Officials

A phishing email has been reported that is impersonating both Cortland County and City of Cortland Officials. According to the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), scammers are sending emails impersonating either city or county officials and requesting fraudulent payments.

In cases, the scammers claim to target those who have recently applied for planning, zoning, or land-use permits.

Victims would receive an email that appears to be legitimate and include legitimate details such as property addresses, permit numbers, and names of applicants and officials.

“These messages often request payment for supposed permit fees and may instruct recipients to send money via wire transfer, peer-to-peer payment apps, or cryptocurrency — a common red flag for scams.” According to a release by Cortland County.

The FBI says you should verify emails before sending any type of payment or personal information. Never send payment from an unexpected email and to contact the office directly via a known phone number.

If you believe you have received a fraudulent email or have been targeted by a scam, report it to the FBI’s Internet Crime Complaint Center at IC3.gov.