MARTIN COUNTY, FL — The Martin County Sheriff’s Office is warning residents and businesses about a fraudulent email campaign that appears to target development review applicants. The emails ask recipients to send payment, sometimes in different amounts, through wire transfer.
Investigators say the messages are designed to look like legitimate county correspondence. The concern is that people could believe they are paying an official fee when they are actually responding to a scam.
MCSO says the emails should be treated as suspicious and checked carefully before anyone sends money or shares information.
How the scam emails are trying to look official
According to the sheriff’s office, the fake messages imitate county communications closely enough to create confusion. The emails are aimed at people involved in development review, a process that often involves back-and-forth with local government offices…