WORCESTER COUNTY, Md.- Worcester County Government is alerting locals and business owners about an email scam they say is targeting people involved in the county’s permitting and plan review process. According to officials, scammers pose as Development Review and Permitting staff, urging recipients to wire money for supposed fees.
“Several individuals in our business community have received emails requesting payment for actual projects going through the review process,” said Jennifer Keener, DRP director. “Fortunately, we live in a tight-knit community, so recipients have felt comfortable picking up the phone and calling to confirm that the emails in question were in fact scams.”
The county says there are several warning signs people should watch for:
- Emails coming from addresses like @usa.com instead of a verified county domain. Always hover over the sender’s name to see the true email address.
- Requests for wire transfers or suspicious links. Worcester County does not accept wire transfers. The agency says valid payments can be made in person, by mail to the Snow Hill address, or through a secure online portal.
- Claims that all communication must be by email. County staff regularly communicate by phone, email, and in person.
Scammers reportedly use real county documents, staff reports, and meeting agendas to make their emails appear authentic.
“DRP staff communicate directly with constituents going through the plan review process, so if you haven’t had a conversation with an actual county staff member, red flags should be going off if you receive an email requesting payment,” Keener said. “When in doubt, call the county directly.”
Worcester County officials are urging anyone who receives suspicious messages or calls about unexpected fees to avoid replying or clicking unknown links and instead contact the county directly for verification.