03/27/2026
๐จ SCAM ALERT โ Weโre seeing this here in Eau Claire County ๐จ
The FBI Internet Crime Complaint Center recently issued a warning about a phishing scam that is now showing up in our area.
Criminals are impersonating city and county officials and sending emails related to things like planning, zoning, or permits. These emails may look legitimate and often request urgent payments (frequently via wire transfer) to move a project forward.
Hereโs what you need to know:
๐น These emails are fraudulent โ local government offices will NOT request payments this way
๐น Scammers often create realistic-looking email addresses and documents
๐น They rely on urgency to pressure victims into acting quickly
How to protect yourself:
โ๏ธ Do NOT send money or provide sensitive information based on an email alone
โ๏ธ Verify requests by contacting your local municipality using a known phone number
โ๏ธ Be cautious of unexpected messages involving permits, zoning, or fees
If you receive one of these emails, report it to the FBI Internet Crime Complaint Center at ic3.gov.
Weโre continuing to monitor this activity locally. Please share this information to help protect others in our community.
https://www.ic3.gov/PSA/2026/PSA260309