City of Fargo issues warning after scammers impersonate city officials through fraudulent emails
Fargo, North Dakota – The City of Fargo is warning residents and businesses to be on alert after discovering a scam involving fraudulent emails that falsely appear to come from city officials.
According to the City of Fargo Planning Department, the deceptive messages are designed to look like official government correspondence. Officials say the emails appear to come from a government email address and are signed as though they were sent by the Chair of the Planning Commission.
City officials said they are aware of the fraudulent activity and are working with the City’s Information Services Department and the Fargo Police Department to investigate and respond to the scam.
Officials urge residents not to respond to suspicious emails
The fraudulent emails reference an application for a raffle permit, but city officials emphasized that raffle permits are not handled by the Planning Commission.
Instead, those permits are administered through the City of Fargo Auditor’s Office, making the emails immediately suspicious.
The city also warned that scammers often change the way they operate. Fraudsters may use different email addresses, phone numbers, text messages, or other communication methods to make their messages appear legitimate. In some cases, both sender names and email addresses are manipulated to resemble official government contacts.
Residents who receive an unexpected email claiming to be from the City of Fargo are urged not to reply or communicate with the sender. Officials also advise against clicking on links, downloading attachments, sending money, or providing personal or financial information.
Instead, anyone who receives a suspicious request should independently verify it by contacting the city through the official phone numbers or contact information listed on the City of Fargo’s website or through other verified city communications. Officials caution residents not to rely on any contact information included in a suspicious message.
The city is also providing guidance for anyone who may have already interacted with one of the fraudulent emails.
Individuals who believe they responded to a scam message or shared financial or personal information should immediately contact their financial institution, if necessary, and report the incident to the Fargo Police Department by calling 701-235-4493.
City officials are encouraging both residents and local businesses to remain cautious whenever they receive unexpected requests involving permits, applications, payments, or personal information. They stress that taking a few moments to verify the legitimacy of a message can help prevent identity theft, financial loss, and other forms of fraud.
The City of Fargo says it will continue working with local authorities to address the scam while reminding the public to stay vigilant against evolving fraud tactics.
