COLUMBUS, Ind. – The City of Columbus is alerting residents about a phishing email that appears to come from the “City of Columbus Planning Department.”
This fraudulent email uses formatting and language that seem legitimate. It targets individuals who have already begun or recently completed an application process with the Planning Department. The scam emails may include links requesting payment for application/approval fees.
The City of Columbus-Bartholomew County Planning Department says the only fees due during the Planning Department process are collected at the time the application is submitted. “We want residents and local businesses to be aware that the city will never request personal or financial information through email,” stated Mike Richardson, Director of Security and Risk. “If you receive a suspicious message, verify its legitimacy before responding or taking action.”
Once your application is received, Office Administrator Janie Meek will send you an email with fee information and how to make a payment by cash, check, or at the city’s official payment site, PayGov. Fees range from $10 to $500, and not in the thousands of dollars being requested by the scammers.
Phishing emails are designed to trick recipients into revealing personal information or to have them click on malicious links. To protect yourself:
- Verify the sender by checking the full email address, not just the display name – scammers often use addresses similar to legitimate ones
- Be cautious with links and attachments – hover over links to preview the web address before clicking, and avoid downloading attachments from unknown sources
- Watch for urgent or threatening messages – phishing emails often pressure you to act immediately or risk losing access to an account
- Never share personal information by email – legitimate companies and government agencies will not ask for passwords, Social Security numbers, or financial details via email
- Look for signs of poor quality – misspellings, grammatical errors, or unusual formatting can signal a scam
- When in doubt, verify by contacting the organization directly using a verified phone number or website rather than responding to the email
