PHILADELPHIA (KYW Newsradio) — Delaware County officials and the FBI are warning the public of a phishing scheme in which scammers impersonate local government officials to solicit fraudulent payments for permits.
County officials stress that is not how they do business.
Delaware County Council Chair Richard Womack said the scammers are copying county letterheads and signatures — both via email and snail mail — to look legit.
Officials said the scammers also use publicly available permit information to identify potential victims and increase their legitimacy, including details such as addresses, case numbers, and correct names of county officials and towns.
Womack stressed that the county would never send a request like that.
“Anyone who really wants to make sure, they can always contact the county,” he added.
The scam has become so prevalent that the FBI is now involved. The agency advised residents not to answer emails from addresses such as “PlanningDptDelawareCountyPa.gov@usa.com.” Emails from Delaware County employees will come from a “@co.delaware.pa.us” address.
The agency is encouraging anyone who believes they have been scammed to contact them at ic3.gov.
