The Washoe County Sheriff’s Office is alerting residents to a fraudulent email scam that is circulating, targeting property owners and applicants for development requests in the unincorporated County. The scam attempts to trick recipients into sending money by posing as officials from Washoe County and the Washoe County Planning Commission.
The email claims that recipients must pay an application approval fee for in-process development applications to receive final approval. It includes detailed project information, instructions for payment, and a request to submit proof of payment. While the email may appear legitimate, all of this information can be found publicly online, and no payment via email is required for development applications submitted through the Washoe County Planning Program.
This email is a SCAM.
Key Indicators:
- Suspicious Email Addresses: Check that the sender’s email domain matches official Washoe County addresses (eg. @washoecounty.gov)
- Urgency or Threats: Scammers often create a sense of urgency, claiming your application will expire if you do not pay immediately.
- Generic Greetings, Signatures, and Errors: Emails may use vague titles or appear to come from government staff but lack official verification. You may also notice errors in information.
- Washoe County Logo: Scam emails may include official or Washoe County logos, but they logo often appears faint and blurry which is inconsistent with legitimate Washoe County correspondence.
- Requests for Personal or Financial Information: Never provide credit card, bank account, or other personal information in response to unsolicited emails.
- Unexpected Payment Requests: The Washoe County Planning Program does not request payments via email for application approvals.
Protect Yourself:
- Do Not Respond or Call: Avoid engaging with the message or calling any provided numbers. If you receive this type of email do not respond, do not click on any links, and do not provide payment or personal information. Delete the message immediately if you cannot verify it directly with Washoe County or an official government entity.
- Verify Directly: For official information regarding applications, fees, or government correspondence, always contact the appropriate department directly using verified contact information. In the case of this scam, contact the Washoe County Planning Program directly at (775) 328-6100. You may also find official department contact information at washoecounty.gov and washoesheriff.com or by calling 3-1-1.
- Report Suspicious Messages: Use your email’s “Report Junk” feature to flag scam messages.
If you believe you have fallen victim to this scam, or any scam, document all communications and contact local law enforcement immediately. For more resources, visit the Washoe County Sheriff’s Office Fraud Awareness Hub at washoesheriff.com/fraud.
The Washoe County Sheriff’s Office remains committed to protecting residents from fraud and encourages the public to remain vigilant.
