Monterey County officials are warning the public about a scam involving fraudulent invoices falsely appearing to be from the county.
The fake invoices, requesting payments over $14,000, have been reported by at least three recipients, including a local school, officials said.
All Saints Day School reportedly received a falsified invoice for permitting fees related to a project before the county’s Planning Commission, a press release on Thursday noted.
According to officials, the invoice appeared to have originated from the county and included the name of a county official. However, the county did not issue it.
The school’s chief financial officer identified the scam before payment was made, but the email had already pass two levels of internal review.
“These fraudulent invoices are deeply concerning, as they exploit the trust between our county and those doing business with us,” said County Administrative Officer Sonia M. De La Rosa.
The email use unofficial addresses and mimic official county formatting, officials said.
The public is advised to verify invoices directly with the county’s Permit Center at (831) 755-5025 and avoid responding to suspicious emails.
The county is investigating the scam.
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