Law enforcement officials in New Castle County are alerting residents about a sophisticated fraud scheme targeting people seeking government permits.
Detectives with the New Castle County Division of Police are looking into a case where scammers created fake email addresses that mimic official county government communications. The fraudulent scheme specifically targets individuals who have submitted permit applications.
According to investigators, the scam works by sending victims official-looking emails that falsely claim to be from New Castle County offices. These deceptive messages request additional fees supposedly needed to complete the permit application process.
Police say the fake emails are designed to appear authentic, making it difficult for residents to distinguish them from legitimate county correspondence. The criminals behind the scheme are attempting to collect unauthorized payments from unsuspecting permit applicants.
Authorities are urging residents to verify any unexpected payment requests by contacting the appropriate county office directly through official phone numbers rather than responding to email solicitations.
