By Rich Larson
Back in March, Rice County officials issued a warning to residents about a growing scam targeting property owners applying for building and zoning permits. Now, they are re-issuing the warning, and reminding residents of the scam. The alert, issued in partnership with the FBI, highlights a phishing scheme in which criminals pose as government officials to collect fraudulent payments.
According to the county, scammers are using publicly available permit information to make their messages appear legitimate. Several Rice County residents have already been targeted, and similar cases have been reported nationwide.
The scheme typically involves unsolicited emails sent to individuals or businesses with active permit applications. These messages often include accurate details such as property addresses, application numbers and even the names of real city or county officials. Victims are instructed to pay fees through wire transfers, peer-to-peer apps or cryptocurrency—methods that are difficult to trace and recover.
County officials say the emails can be convincing, using professional language, official-looking logos and references to real planning and zoning processes. However, warning signs include suspicious email domains that mimic government accounts and urgent demands for payment to avoid delays in approval.
Rice County Environmental Services Director Julie Runkel said the department has taken steps to reduce the risk, but residents must remain cautious, and should not assume an email is legitimate just because it has an “official” appearance.
The county advises applicants to verify all payment requests by calling the Environmental Services Department directly or checking their permit account online. Legitimate invoices will only appear within the official system.
Anyone who believes they have been targeted or scammed is encouraged to report the incident to the FBI’s Internet Crime Complaint Center at ic3.gov.
Rich Larson is the owner and General Manager of KYMN Radio. Contact him at rich@kymnradio.net
