Harker Heights, Texas, says a scam tied to city permits and planning is circulating. Anyone who files for permits should confirm a bill before paying it.
The City of Harker Heights, Texas, has warned residents about a scam that involves city permit and planning matters. KCEN-TV reported the warning. If someone contacts you about a permit or planning fee you were not expecting, treat it as suspect until the city itself confirms it.
The city says the scam is connected to permits and planning. Beyond that, the material available gives few details. It does not say how the scammers make contact, how much they ask for, or how many people have been targeted.
Permits and planning requests are routine for people who build, remodel or open a business. Many of them involve fees, so a bill about one can look normal. Scammers often pose as officials and push for fast payment. That pressure is meant to stop you from checking.
The warning is aimed at homeowners, contractors, builders and business owners in Harker Heights who deal with city permits and planning. If you have no open request with the city, a bill like this is even more likely to be fake. Still, a real project does not make a request real, so check either way.
The alert box above lists the steps. The key idea is simple: do not rely on the phone number or link in the message. Find the city's official contact details yourself and ask them directly.
It is not yet clear whether the city will share more about how the scam works. Watch the city's official channels for updates, and expect that scammers may change their approach.
Before paying any permit or planning bill, look up the city's official number yourself and confirm the request.
The Attala County Sheriff's Office in Mississippi says scam calls are reaching residents, and a call that sounds official may not be.
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Read more: Fake jury duty calls spoof a real Texas sheriff's phone numberFake PayPal emails and texts, some posing as a security report, try to get you to tap a link and type your login. Checking your account directly avoids the trap.
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