The Lincoln County Sheriff’s Office is alerting residents about a sophisticated phishing scam targeting people who have applied for building permits in the county.
Scammers are sending professional-looking emails to individuals with pending or recently approved building projects, falsely claiming they owe additional fees such as an “Application Review and Approval Fee” or “Zoning Compliance Fee.” The emails demand immediate payment, usually via wire transfer, cryptocurrency, or payment apps like Venmo, Zelle, or Cash App.
So far, residents in the towns of Edgecomb and South Bristol have been targeted.
How the Scammers Operate
The fraudsters are using publicly available information from town planning board agendas, meeting minutes, and permit applications. They include specific details such as the property address, permit application number, and even the names of real local officials to make the emails appear legitimate. The messages typically instruct recipients to reply by email only for payment instructions and strongly discourage them from calling town offices to verify the request.
- Requests for payment through irreversible methods (wire transfers, crypto, or peer-to-peer apps).
- Email addresses that look official but use non-government domains.
- Extreme urgency, with threats that the permit will be delayed or denied if payment isn’t made quickly.
How to Protect Yourself
- Never pay based on an unsolicited email or text.
- Verify directly: Ignore any contact information provided in the message. Instead, look up the official phone number on the town’s website and call the planning or code enforcement office to check if any fees are actually owed.
- Most towns only accept permit payments through secure, official online portals — not via email or wire transfer.
- If you receive a suspicious message, report it immediately to your local law enforcement agency and notify the town’s planning department.
Residents are encouraged to stay vigilant as scammers exploit public records to create convincing schemes. If you believe you have been targeted or scammed, contact the Lincoln County Sheriff’s Office or your local police department.
