Multiple US Cities Warn Residents of Scams Targeting Permit and Arrest Notifications

Several U.S. cities including Charlotte, Stevens Point, Iberville Parish, and Ocean Springs have issued warnings about various email scams targeting residents and applicants. In Charlotte and Stevens Point, scammers impersonate city planning and zoning departments, sending fake invoices and requesting wire transfers or payments for rezoning and licensing applications, using publicly available information to make the scam appear legitimate. Officials emphasize that legitimate city payments are processed through official channels and warn that no city staff will request wire transfers. In Iberville Parish, a scam involves emails falsely claiming federal arrest warrants with follow-up calls demanding payment, with authorities advising residents not to share personal or financial information and to ignore these messages. Ocean Springs also cautions residents against scam emails posing as city invoices and urges them to block and delete such emails. Residents in all affected areas are encouraged to verify suspicious communications with city or law enforcement officials and report scams promptly.