Residents of St. Augustine are being warned of a new scam making the rounds – this time involving bogus letters about unpaid permits. These fraudulent documents may look official with all the bells and whistles one would expect from a city correspondence, but the City of St. Augustine is advising vigilance, as these mailings are not coming from any city department.
It's key to know that city officials will never ask residents to wire money to settle permit-related fees. Though these letters bear a striking resemblance to authentic communiques, red flags such as demands for immediate payment or strange contact details should trigger suspicion. According to the City of St. Augustine's official alert, if you've gotten an email that doesn't end in @citystaug.com, the odds are, it's not legit.
For those who've received one of these dubious letters, the city's advice is crystal clear: Do not send any money or personal information. In case you believe you might have been duped by this or another ruse, the immediate steps to take include reaching out to your bank and notifying the St. Augustine Police Department directly at 904-825-1074 for reporting suspected fraud.
