The city of South Haven is warning everyone of a nationwide scam targeting residents by impersonating local government planning and zoning departments.
The city says scammers are using publicly available information to send realistic-looking emails and invoices that request payment by wire transfer.
The city was recently notified that a South Haven resident received one of these phishing emails from an address posing as the city’s planning department. The message used the city’s logo and the name of the planning and zoning administrator, but the email did not come from the city.
The city says it does not request wire transfers. Legitimate payments are only accepted in person at city hall, by mail, or through the city’s official online portal. Other warning signs include incorrect fee amounts, distorted logos, non-city email addresses, and invoices listing payment as “due upon receipt.”
Anyone with questions should contact the city of South Haven.
