Officials say scammers are using real case numbers to make fake payment requests look legitimate
Baldwin County, Ala. — (OBA) — The Baldwin County Commission is alerting the public to a growing scam targeting property owners and professionals involved in Planning and Zoning cases. Officials report fraudulent emails linked to active Planning Commission cases. The messages are designed to look legitimate by including real case numbers, property details, and other publicly available information. The emails use that information to make fake payment requests appear credible.
The county has received several reports of fraudulent emails. The FBI’s Internet Crime Complaint Center (IC3) issued a nationwide Public Service Announcement in March 2026 warning about this type of fraud targeting applicants in planning, zoning, and permitting across the country…