Fake invoices are hitting inboxes across Schuyler County—and officials say don’t fall for them.
Planning Director Joann Lindstrom and County Attorney Steven Getman are warning residents about fraudulent emails impersonating the county’s planning department. The messages demand payment for fake land use review fees, often using high-pressure tactics and suspicious payment methods like cryptocurrency or gift cards.
Scammers using planning board schedule
The fake emails often show up in the first week of each month—right before the county planning board meets. That timing is no accident, officials say. Scammers are trying to catch residents off guard when legitimate county planning activity is underway.
“The Schuyler County Planning Department and its Planning Commission do not charge any costs for land use reviews,” Lindstrom said in the release. “If you receive a bill from the Planning Department, do not submit payment and contact us immediately.”
At least one case has already been reported in the county, and similar scams are popping up in other parts of New York and beyond.
What to watch for
Getman outlined several red flags to help spot a scam:
- Urgent payment demands with threats of project delays
- Requests for payment via wire transfer, gift cards, prepaid debit cards or cryptocurrency
- Spelling and grammar mistakes
- Unofficial-looking formatting or unclear language
He also encouraged residents to double-check any communication that seems off. “If you’ve received any such email, report it immediately to help us track and stop these fraudsters,” Getman said.
How to protect yourself
- Only trust emails from official domains like schuylercountyny.gov or schuylercounty.us
- Use official phone numbers or the county website to verify requests
- Don’t respond to high-pressure messages or unusual payment requests
- Get familiar with local government procedures and stay active in your community
Where to report scams
If you think you’ve received one of these scam messages, call the Schuyler County Planning Department at 607-535-8211 or visit schuylercountyny.gov/484/Planning.
Fraud victims can also contact:
- Schuyler County Sheriff’s Office: 607-535-8222
- NYS Attorney General’s Consumer Frauds Bureau: 1-800-771-7755
- Federal Trade Commission: ftc.gov/complaint
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