Scammers target Tucson residents with fake payment emails | Local News

TUCSON, Ariz. (KVOA) – The City of Tucson Planning and Development Services Department (PDSD) is alerting residents about a wave of phishing emails falsely claiming to be from the department. These fraudulent messages request payments, posing a serious risk to unsuspecting recipients.

The department clarified that it does not request payment or wire transfers by email or phone. Official permit invoices are only sent from [email protected]. Any payment request from a different address is not from the city, officials said.

Efforts are underway to investigate the issue with city IT partners. The city is committed to safeguarding customers and will provide updates as more information emerges.

Residents are urged to contact PDSD at 520-791-5550 with any permit-related questions. If you responded to one of these fraudulent emails and submitted a payment, it is crucial to contact your bank or financial institution immediately and report the incident to the FBI’s Internet Crime Complaint Center at ic3.gov.

The city encourages the public to verify any suspicious correspondence by calling 311 to connect with the appropriate department.