Scammers posing as the City of Upper Arlington are sending fake invoices and phishing emails to residents and businesses, the city warned in an alert posted Oct. 22.

The fraudulent invoices reference real properties, actual projects and city-related activities, making them look legitimate. The city said it has also received reports of scammers targeting permit applicants with fake emails claiming additional payments are due and requesting wire transfers.

The scammers are pulling details from publicly available records, including public meeting agendas and online permit filings, to craft convincing payment demands that appear to come from a government entity, according to the city's alert.

Upper Arlington is not alone. Similar scams have hit municipalities across Central Ohio and throughout the state in recent weeks and months, the city said. In Hilliard, city officials warned in early October that variance applicants were receiving fake invoices demanding wire-transfer payments before their cases could be heard, 10TV reported.

The city has redacted sensitive information from its permit database and posted a fraud warning on its online permit portal. Still, scammers may pull information from other public sources to make their requests look real.

How to spot a fake

The city outlined several steps residents and businesses should take before paying any unexpected invoice:

  • Verify first. Contact the Upper Arlington Finance Department through the city's official website to confirm any invoice before paying. Do not use phone numbers or links included in the suspicious message.
  • Never wire money. The city will never request payment by wire transfer. Any email demanding a wire transfer for permit fees is fraudulent.
  • Don't trust familiar details. An invoice that includes accurate property information, project details or official-looking logos is not necessarily legitimate.
  • Skip suspicious links. Do not click unfamiliar links, open unexpected attachments or provide personal or financial information in response to an unverified request.

If you've been scammed

Anyone who has sent money in response to a fraudulent invoice should file a report with the Upper Arlington Police Division. Residents should also contact the Finance Department to alert city staff.

The city's general phone number is 614-583-5000.