Alpharetta, Georgia – City officials in Alpharetta are urging caution after discovering a scam aimed at residents, business owners, and developers involved in the public hearing process. According to the city, fraudulent emails have been circulating that appear to come from legitimate municipal sources, complete with official-looking logos, staff names, and even project details pulled from publicly available records.
The emails often include invoices or requests for payment tied to permits or community development services. In some cases, recipients are instructed to send funds through wire transfers. City leaders stress that Alpharetta does not request Community Development payments through wire transfers, and legitimate city emails always come from addresses ending in @alpharetta.ga.us.
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Officials say the scheme relies on deception rather than sophistication. By scanning public meeting agendas and related documents, scammers identify applicants scheduled for hearings and then contact them directly, hoping recipients will respond quickly without verifying the source. The tactic has not been isolated to Alpharetta; similar attempts have been reported by local governments across the region.
The city is working with law enforcement to investigate the matter and protect those who may be targeted. In the meantime, residents are encouraged to remain alert. Unsolicited attachments, unexpected links, and PDF invoices should be treated with suspicion, especially if they request immediate payment.
Anyone who receives a questionable message is advised to contact Alpharetta Community Development directly at 678-297-6070 to confirm its legitimacy. For accurate permitting information, the city recommends visiting its official Planning & Zoning webpage rather than clicking links embedded in emails.
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Authorities also encourage victims or potential targets to report fraudulent activity. Reports can be filed with the Georgia Attorney General’s Consumer Protection Team at 404-651-8600 or through the FBI’s Internet Crime Complaint Center.
City officials emphasize that vigilance is the strongest defense. By verifying email addresses, questioning unexpected payment requests, and contacting the city directly, residents and developers can avoid falling prey to a scam that preys on public information and routine government processes.
