City of Cleveland Issues Warning on Imposter Scam Targeting Users of City Services
The City of Cleveland has issued a public warning regarding an increase in imposter scams targeting individuals and businesses that use various city services. Fraudsters are posing as city employees, primarily through email, to demand payments for applications or fees. These scams often involve fake invoices and request payment via wire transfer, a method the city explicitly states it will never use. The scam appears realistic as it includes accurate descriptions of legitimate projects that applicants have submitted, such as building permits or rental registrations. The fraudsters obtain contact information, including email addresses and phone numbers, from the city's Permit Portal, which is hosted by a third-party vendor. The City of Cleveland, in collaboration with its Department of Building & Housing, Office of Information Technology & Services, Law Department, and City Planning Commission, launched an investigation into the matter. The city has since instructed its vendor to remove certain features fro...
