The New Bedford Police Department (NBPD) is warning local residents and business owners about an ongoing permit application scam targeting current and former applicants of the City’s Planning, Zoning, and Community Preservation programs.
The alert follows a nationwide warning issued by the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) regarding cybercriminals impersonating municipal and county officials to solicit fraudulent fees.
How the Scam Works
Scammers are distributing phishing emails designed to look like official communications from local government agencies. These fraudulent emails often:
- Include detailed, official-looking invoices demanding large fee payments.
- Instruct recipients to transfer funds using wire transfers or other non-traceable methods.
- Originate from fake domains, including email addresses ending in
@usa.com.
Official city representatives emphasize that the New Bedford Department of City Planning will never request application fees through email.
What Residents and Applicants Should Do
Local authorities strongly advise residents to exercise caution when receiving unsolicited requests for payment:
- Do not respond or pay: Never send money or reply to suspicious emails or invoice requests.
- Verify before paying: Always verify application fees directly with official municipal departments using verified contact numbers. To confirm legitimate planning fees, contact the City Planning Department directly at (508) 979-1488.
- Report suspicious activity: Anyone who believes they have received a scam email or fallen victim to a fraudulent payment should contact the New Bedford Police Department at (508) 991-6350.
Additional Resources for Reporting
If you suspect you have been targeted by this scam, you can also submit reports through national cybercrime resources:
- FBI Internet Crime Complaint Center: Submit a cybercrime report at www.ic3.gov.
- FBI Public Service Announcement: Learn more about this nationwide threat in the official FBI Alert.
- Multi-State Information Sharing and Analysis Center (MS-ISAC): Reach their 24/7 Security Operations Center at (866) 787-4722 or via email at
soc@msisac.org.
