The City of Fargo Planning Department is alerting the public to a scam involving fraudulent emails sent by individuals posing as City of Fargo officials.
The fraudulent emails falsely claim to be official City of Fargo correspondence, appear to come from a government email address and are signed as if they were sent by the Planning Commission Chair. The City of Fargo is aware of this scam, and City staff are working with the City's Information Services Department and Fargo Police Department to address the matter.
The fraudulent emails refer to an application for a raffle permit. Please note that raffle permits are administered by the City of Fargo Auditor’s Office, not the Planning Commission.
Residents should be aware that scammers frequently change their tactics and may use different email addresses, phone numbers, text messages or other methods to impersonate City officials or departments. Email addresses and sender names are sometimes manipulated to appear legitimate.
If you receive an unexpected message claiming to be from the City of Fargo:
• Do not reply to the message or engage with the sender.
• Do not click on links or open attachments.
• Do not send money or provide personal or financial information.
• Verify the request independently by contacting the City using the phone numbers or contact information on the official City of Fargo website or through other verified City communications. Do not use contact information provided in a suspicious message.
If you believe you have responded to a fraudulent message or shared financial or personal information, contact your financial institution immediately, if applicable, and report the incident to the Fargo Police Department by calling 701.235.4493. The City of Fargo encourages residents and businesses to remain vigilant and verify any unexpected request involving permits, applications, payments or personal information before taking action.