The Bucks County Planning Commission has issued a warning about a scam that is specifically targeting property owners currently working with them. Scammers are sending fraudulent emails, which were discovered in April and again earlier this month, that ask for payment for an application approval fee.

In both instances, the fraudulent email appeared to come from the Bucks County Planning Commission's board chair. The county clarifies that neither the board chair nor the board members send official correspondence regarding application approvals or fees.

Similar scams have been reported in other parts of the country, indicating a broader trend of criminals targeting individuals and businesses involved in real estate transactions. These scams often fall under the category of wire transfer fraud, where large sums of money can be lost permanently.

If you receive an email of this nature, please be aware of the following:

• Do NOT click on any links.
• Do NOT download any attachments.
• Do NOT follow any instructions in the message.

These emails are not from the Bucks County Planning Commission. The county government will not request payments for application fees via email in this manner.

Remember to stay vigilant:

• Protect your personal information.
• Be cautious of unsolicited emails, especially if they are requesting payment.
• When in doubt, contact the Bucks County Planning Commission at 215-345-3400 or the appropriate authorities directly to verify the request. Remember to use a phone number you know to be legitimate, not one provided in the suspicious email.

Stay safe and alert.