Monterey County officials warn of fake Planning Commission invoicing scam

Monterey County officials warn of a scam involving fake invoices targeting individuals and businesses with pending projects before the Planning Commission. Recipients have received fraudulent invoices that appear to originate from the Commission, which never requests payments. In March, three recipients reported fake invoices totaling over $14,000, followed by another applicant receiving a $5,000 invoice in July. The fake documents, which included a Monterey County seal, misled recipients into making wire transfers. County officials emphasize the importance of verifying the authenticity of any suspicious documents and urge the public to contact the county’s permit center at (831) 755-5025 if they receive such invoices.

Legitimate communications from the county will always end in “. gov,” distinguishing them from fraudulent emails. This scam highlights the need for vigilance among individuals and businesses engaged with the Planning Commission. The county provides additional information about legitimate online payments for permitting on its website.