WATKINS GLEN, NY (607NewsNow) — Schuyler County Planning Director Joann Lindstrom and County Attorney Steven Getman are warning residents, businesses, and applicants about a scam involving fraudulent invoices and emails that impersonate county planning offices.
The scam aims to get individuals to pay nonexistent fees for land use or planning reviews. There has been at least one incident reported so far in Schuyler County, and numerous reports of the same scam across New York State and the country as a whole.
“The Schuyler County Planning Department and its Planning Commission do not charge any costs for land use reviews,” said Lindstrom. “If you receive a bill from the Planning Department, do not submit payment and contact the Schuyler County Planning Department immediately.
“We want to ensure that our community is protected from these deceptive practices,” said Getman. “If you’ve received any such email, report it immediately to help us track and stop these fraudsters.”
Persons who suspect they have encountered this scam should report it immediately to the Schuyler County Planning Department (607-535-8211) or visit the planning department’s website here.
Anyone who suspects they may have been the victim of fraud may also contact local law enforcement agencies, including the Schuyler County Sheriff’s Office at 607-535-8222, the New York State Attorney General’s Office Consumer Frauds Bureau at 1-800-771-7755, or the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) at ftc.gov/complaint.
