The city of Green Bay is alerting residents, property owners, and local businesses to a recent surge in sophisticated phishing scams targeting individuals involved in city permit applications and board or committee processes.
The fraudulent scheme involves emails that appear to come from city officials or departments, often using official city logos, addresses, and references to legitimate applications or recent public meetings. The emails request urgent payment of thousands of dollars via wire transfer for supposed permit or application review fees. In some cases, the messages include fake invoices and reference real property addresses or application numbers to appear authentic.
Key warning signs:
- Requests for Wire Transfers: The City of Green Bay will never ask for permit or application fee payments via wire transfer or through unofficial channels.
- Suspicious Email Addresses: Official City communications will always come from an @greenbaywi.gov email address.
- Urgency and Threats: Scammers often use urgent language, demanding immediate payment and threatening delays in application processing.
- Fake Invoices and Attachments: Emails may include attachments that look like official invoices, with City logos and addresses copied from public sources.
Do not respond to suspicious emails, click links, or provide any personal or financial information. Share this information with neighbors, colleagues, and community groups to help prevent further incidents.
