Protect Yourself from Zoning and Planning Scams

The City of Syracuse has been made aware of a nationwide scam targeting residents and businesses seeking land use renewals, permits, and board approvals.

The City of Syracuse will NEVER ask for a wire transfer, cryptocurrency, a mailed check to an unverified address, or any other non-traditional payment system.

Official City of Syracuse transactions are always conducted through secure, verified City payment portals or in person at City offices. If you have any doubt about a payment request, stop immediately and contact the appropriate office for confirmation.

How the Scam Works

According to a recent intelligence report, FBI MS-ISAC OCAR - Update - Nationwide Zoning and Planning Scam.pdf, cybercriminals are masquerading as local county and city planning departments. They aim to extract illegitimate payments from applicants by pretending to be official government employees.

• Targeted Timing: Malicious emails often arrive shortly before or concurrently with scheduled public hearings. This tactic is used to add legitimacy to the lure and create a false sense of urgency.

• Fake Invoices: Scammers attach fraudulent PDF invoices to their emails. These invoices are tailored to look like they originated from the local planning commission or another City entity.

• Stolen Public Data: To make the attempt look legitimate, the scammers often include real information sourced from publicly available municipal portals and pages.

   

  Red Flags to Watch For

  If you are currently undergoing a renewal, public hearing, or application process, be on high alert for the following indicators:

  • Suspicious Email Domains: Official communications from our office will always come from an email address ending in @syr.gov. Malicious emails frequently originate from the domain usa.com, which is provided by the flexible web-based service Mail.com. Scammers register customized addresses like planning.syracuse@usa.com to trick applicants. Other fake domains may also be used!
  • Urgent Demands for Payment: A common red flag is an email urgently pressuring victims to issue a payment to avoid delays in their application review.
  • Wire Transfer Requests: The fraudulent invoices explicitly provide wire transfer instructions or ask the applicant to reply to the email to receive them.
  • Email-Only Communication Demands: The scammers often state that all correspondence regarding the case must be conducted via email only, preventing you from calling to verify.

Spotting a Fake Invoice

Below are some examples of real and fake invoices.

FAKE

REAL

FAKE

What to Do If You Are Targeted

1. Do Not Pay: Never initiate a wire transfer or send alternative forms of payment based on an email request.

2. Verify Independently: Reach out to the Syracuse Zoning Administration or Appropriate Office (see side panel) directly using our official contact information:

   • Email: zoning@syr.gov

   • Phone: (315) 448-8640

3. Report It: If you receive one of these malicious emails, please report the incident to local law enforcement. You can also file a report with the FBI's Internet Crime Complaint Center (IC3) at www.ic3.gov

We appreciate your vigilance in helping us keep the Syracuse community secure from financial fraud.