Fake invoices demanding wire transfers are landing in former planning applicants’ inboxes, and city leaders want residents on alert. The Auburn Police Department warned about the scam, according to The Citizen, saying someone targets past Planning Board and Zoning Board of Appeals applicants.
City Manager Jenny Haines said someone first flagged the issue more than six months ago after receiving a bogus bill. At least two other former applicants reported similar invoices. The city never asks for wire transfers and collects planning fees upfront.
Officials added disclaimers to applications and continue working with IT to block the scam. Anyone unsure about an invoice should call the planning or code enforcement offices or visit Memorial City Hall to verify it.
FingerLakes1.com is the region’s leading all-digital news publication. The company was founded in 1998 and has been keeping residents informed for more than two decades. Have a lead? Send it to [email protected].