Charlotte
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Published on January 23, 2025
Charlotte County Warns Residents of Convincing Phishing Emails Posing as Official CommunicationsSource: Unsplash/ Krsto Jevtic

If your inbox recently served up an email that seems to be from the Charlotte County Community Development Department, you might want to think twice before clicking any links or downloading any attachments. The department has issued a public warning about a phishing scam making the rounds, targeting individuals with emails that convincingly masquerade as official communications.

These scammy emails are not just a minor annoyance - they're a direct threat to your private information, seeking to swipe financial data, among other things. The tell-tale sign of these fraudulent messages is often the presence of suspicious links or attachments; and if the email's asking for a little too much personal detail or oddly soliciting money, it's another red flag. Despite the emails' polished appearance, remember that the real Community Development Department doesn't make a practice of asking for sensitive info via email. According to information from the official Charlotte County website, any legitimate communication should come from an email address ending in @CharlotteCountyFL.gov.

The Community Development Department is reminding everyone to practice safe email habits. If you receive a suspicious email, don’t share personal or financial information. Instead, report it, delete it, and stay alert to avoid scams. For more information on this scam and how to protect yourself, visit the official Charlotte County announcement.