WASHOE COUNTY, Nev. (News 4 & Fox 11) — The Washoe County Sheriff’s Office (WCSO) is warning residents about a fraud email scam circulating and targeting property owners and development applicants in unincorporated Washoe County. The scam attempts to trick recipients into sending money by posing as officials from Washoe County and the Washoe County Planning Commission.
Authorities say the email claims that recipients must pay an application approval fee for in-process development applications to receive final approval. It includes detailed project information, instructions for payment, and a request to submit proof of payment. While the email may appear legitimate, all of this information can be found publicly online, and no payment via email is required for development applications submitted through the Washoe County Planning Program.
WCSO officials shared key indicators of a scam:
- Suspicious Senders: Official Washoe County emails end in @washoecounty.gov
- Urgency or Threats: Scammers pressure you to pay immediately.
- Generic & Errors: May include vague titles, incorrect info, or typos.
- Washoe County Logo: Blurry or distorted logos.
- Unexpected Payment Requests: The Planning Program never requests payments by email.
WCSO shared the following tips for protection from the scam email:
- Do Not Respond, Click Links, or Send Payment: Delete the email.
- Verify Directly: In the case of this scam, contact the Washoe County Planning Program directly at (775) 328-6100. Find official Washoe County contact information here or by calling 3-1-1.
- Report It: Use your email’s “Report Junk” feature to flag scam messages.
If you believe you’ve been a victim of a scam, document all communications and contact local law enforcement immediately. For more resources, visit the Washoe County Sheriff’s Office Fraud Awareness Hub here.
