Schuyler County officials are alerting residents, businesses, and applicants to a scam involving fraudulent emails and invoices claiming to be from the county’s planning offices.
The scam, which has been reported across New York, including Ontario County, and other states, attempts to trick people into paying fees for land use or planning reviews that don’t exist. At least one incident has already been reported in Schuyler County.
“The Schuyler County Planning Department and its Planning Commission do not charge any costs for land use reviews,” said Planning Director Joann Lindstrom. “If you receive a bill from the Planning Department, do not pay it and contact us immediately.”
County Attorney Steven Getman urged the public to remain vigilant. “We want to protect our community from these deceptive practices. If you receive a suspicious email, report it right away so we can track and stop these fraudsters.”
Officials say scam emails often include:
- Urgent or high-pressure demands for payment, sometimes threatening project delays
- Requests for payment via wire transfers, gift cards, prepaid cards, or cryptocurrency
- Spelling or grammatical errors, poor formatting, or unclear language
- Timing around the week before county planning board meetings, usually the first week of the month
To avoid falling victim, residents should:
- Verify that emails come from official county addresses ending in “schuylercountyny.gov” or “schuylercounty.us”
- Confirm any invoice or request by contacting the Planning Department directly through official phone numbers or the county website
- Be cautious of high-pressure tactics and urgent deadlines
- Never make payments via wire transfers, gift cards, or cryptocurrency
- Stay informed about official processes through active community engagement
Anyone who encounters a suspicious email should contact the Schuyler County Planning Department at 607-535-8211 or visit the department’s website.
Residents who may have been targeted or defrauded can also reach out to the Schuyler County Sheriff’s Office at 607-535-8222, the New York State Attorney General’s Consumer Frauds Bureau at 1-800-771-7755, or file a complaint with the FTC at ftc.gov/complaint
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