Residents and applicants to the City Planning Commission and Board of Zoning Adjustments in New Orleans have been targeted by scammers, according to an official warning issued by the city. These fraudulent actors, posing as legitimate city entities, have been sending out fake invoices in an attempt to dupe applicants into handing over money. The City has identified the scam, which uses the email address "[email protected]" to issue these invoices. But let's be clear: if you're getting your bills from this address, they're about as genuine as a three-dollar bill.
The City Planning Commission staff reportedly uncovered this deceptive scheme recently. It’s essential for applicants to know that these invoices should not be paid. In a straightforward cautionary statement, the city officials have delineated that authentic invoices will only be dispatched from a "nola.gov" email address. The bogus bills, wrapped in the guise of officialdom, are nothing but a trap—one which some might unfortunately fall into without this critical knowledge.
Prospective victims of this fraud can stay one step ahead by scrutinizing the source of any invoice they receive. If an email from "[email protected]" lands in your inbox, it's a red flag. Authentic communication from the City Planning Commission and Board of Zoning Adjustments will only originate directly from the "nola.gov" domain—anything else is a counterfeit attempting to separate you from your cash under the semblance of city business.
According to the official City of New Orleans announcement from yesterday, August 6, "These invoices are not authentic. They should not be paid."
