Alpharetta, Georgia – Alpharetta officials are warning residents and businesses about a new scam that is going around. The strategy distributes fake emails that look like they originate from the city to people who are taking part in public hearings. These messages typically look real because they have official logos, personnel names, and even project data that were stolen directly from public records.
Fake invoices or demands for money for permissions and services are common in this fraud. Some of the emails tell people to pay via wire transfer, which is not how the city collects its Community Development fees. Officials said that any email that doesn’t finish in @alpharetta.ga.us should be treated with suspicion right away.
Some of the emails have attachments or links that officials strongly caution against opening. Files or links that you didn’t expect to see can have harmful content that is meant to steal your personal or financial information. The city has made it clear that these initiatives are not very clever; they depend on people not checking properly before replying.
Other adjacent villages have also experienced similar scams. Criminals routinely look over public meeting agendas to find people who are applying and then go after them with false requests. The Community Development personnel in Alpharetta and the police are working hard to find out who is behind the deceptive activities.
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Residents and businesses are advised to be careful. People who get an email that looks questionable should first call Alpharetta Community Development at 678-297-6070 to be sure it is genuine. The official Planning and Zoning page is still the best place to go for accurate information about permits and hearings.
People who think they could have been targeted are also asked to report the occurrence. You can file a complaint with the Georgia Attorney General’s Consumer Protection Team by calling 404-651-8600 or going to the FBI’s Internet Crime Complaint Center.
City leaders are advising residents that the best way to protect themselves is to stay attentive. Residents and businesses can avoid this scam by carefully checking email addresses, money requests, and attachments.
