Scam Awareness
⚠ Current Alert: Fraudulent emails are impersonating City departments and requesting wire transfer payments for permit or application processing.
The City of Monroe has been made aware of scams targeting residents, property owners, and business applicants. In recent incidents, individuals received fraudulent emails impersonating City departments and requesting payment by wire transfer in order to process permits or applications.
These messages are not legitimate.
We want to ensure our community has the information needed to recognize and avoid these fraudulent attempts.
About the Permit/Planning Application Scam
The City has received multiple messages and invoices sent to community members. The details of the messages vary, but each has been sent by someone claiming to represent the City’s Planning and Development Department.
The messages claim that the recipient needs to send in thousands of dollars for their application to be processed. They directed the targets to request wire transfer instructions and submit payment confirmation to them directly.
The Fraudulent Messages:
- Use the City logo, official mailing address, and real City staff names
- Reference real property addresses
- Include detailed itemized fee breakdowns
- Instruct recipients to request wire transfer instructions
- Originate from non-City email addresses, including Gmail or other public domains
What the City Will Never Do
The City of Monroe will never:
- Request payment by wire transfer via email
- Send invoices from Gmail, Yahoo, or any email not ending in @monroenc.org
- Demand immediate payment or action under threat
- Ask for sensitive personal or financial information through unsolicited communication
- Pressure you to act before verifying the request
If a message feels urgent, threatening, or unusual, pause and verify before responding.
How to Protect Yourself
To avoid falling victim to scams:
- Do not click links or open attachments from unknown or unexpected sources
- Do not provide personal or financial information unless you initiated the contact
- Verify all questions by contacting the City department directly
- Report suspicious messages to Monroe Police Department's non-emergency line at (704) 289-1521 or the related department
When in doubt, it’s always better to confirm directly with the City.
What to Do If You’ve Been Contacted or Affected
If you believe you have been contacted by a scammer or may have shared information:
- Stop communication immediately
- Document the interaction (phone number, email address, message content)
- Contact the Monroe Police Department's non-emergency line at (704) 289-1521
Stay Informed
Scammers often change tactics. We encourage residents and businesses to stay informed by checking this page for updates and sharing this information with colleagues, neighbors, and partners.
For questions or concerns, contact Monroe Police Department's non-emergency line at (704) 289-1521.
Example Scam Message
Below is the verbatim content of one of the emails sent to a local business owner. The City has removed the recipients name and address. This email was sent from an email ending with @mail.com.
This email is in reference to your submitted application concerning the property located at [ADDRESS], for which Gibbs Group has been retained by Shook-Kelley Architects to estimate the retail market demand for additional or expanded stores and restaurants within the downtown Monroe area. This research is intended to provide essential background data to support Shook-Kelley’s downtown master planning process and to serve as a resource for the City of Monroe and its business community.
Following administrative intake, departmental review, and Planning Commission evaluation, your application has been formally recommended to proceed into the official approval and evaluation phase. In order to continue with this process, you are required to settle the attached invoice, which reflects the mandatory Application Review and Approval Fee. Payment of this fee is required before your application can proceed to formal agenda scheduling, expert evaluation, planning review coordination, and final determination.
The Application Review and Approval Fee plays a critical role in supporting the Planning Department’s ability to conduct a comprehensive and compliant review process in accordance with municipal and state planning requirements...
...Timely settlement of this invoice ensures uninterrupted progression of your application and allows the Planning Department to allocate the appropriate administrative, technical, and legal resources required to complete the evaluation and approval process.
For audit integrity, regulatory compliance, and public transparency requirements, all correspondence related to this application must be conducted via email only. This ensures proper documentation and facilitates accurate inclusion within the Planning and Zoning Board agenda and official municipal records.
Next Steps:
1. Please reply to this email to formally request the official wire transfer instructions for settlement of the Application Review and Approval Fee invoice.
2. Upon receipt of the wire instructions, remit payment promptly using the provided banking details.
3. After completing the payment, return the wire transfer receipt via email so that payment can be confirmed and your application can be formally scheduled for agenda inclusion and continued processing.
Please note that your application cannot proceed to formal evaluation, planning review scheduling, or final determination until payment confirmation has been received and documented.