JC Planning Division warning of email scam

The Johnson City Planning Division is warning city residents of an email scam involving an invoice for development-related fees. The City of Johnson City s says that the false emailed invoices “bear the City seal and/or logo and claim to be from planning staff members and commissions.” The emails ask for immediate payments by wire transfer and tell the recipients to only communicate with email. City leaders warn that both requests are strong indicators of fraud. The city’s planning division does email notifications about fees to permit applicants; however, those applicants are asked to pay those fees in person or through Johnson City’s CityView permit portal, but never with a wire transfer. The fraudulent emails are being sent from email addresses that are similar to those of real Johnson City employees and officials note that legitimate City email addresses end with ‘@johnsoncitytn.org,’” Anyone who receives an email like this is instructed not to respond and should call the Johnson City Planning Division to verify a requested payment.