Wisconsin County Warns Scammers Posing As County Officials In New Scam

Officials with the county government in Douglas County in Northern Wisconsin are warning the public that there have been reports of scammers posing as county officials in a new scam being reported around Wisconsin.

In a public alert issued today (July 22), officials with Douglas County shared that a scam recently reported in Northern Minnesota is now being seen across Wisconsin, where scammers will claim to be from a county office, trying to get money from potential victims.

Here's what you need to know about this scam and how to protect yourself.

How does this new scam being reported in Wisconsin work?

An individual posing as an official from the county will reach out to a potential victim, claiming you have an outstanding payment due.

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In most of the reported incidents, the person claims to be with a planning & zoning department, sending an official-looking invoice for some sort of services or other fabricated reason they want you to think you owe money.

These scammers have been reaching out via email, with official-looking emails and invoices, requesting payment.

How can you tell if it is a scam?

The release from Douglas County highlights that scammers pretending to reach out on behalf of the county are doing so with email addresses that don't come from the official DouglasCountyWI.gov domain.

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As officials in St. Louis County reported when they shared information about this same type of scam being reported in Minnesota, they highlighted that some of these scammers were asking for payment to be wired or sent to places other than the official destination you'd normally go to pay an official fee or bill due to the county.

What should I do if I get a potential scam email like this?

Wisconsin officials recommend you reach out directly to the office claiming you have a due bill to verify the legitimacy of said bill. Do not use any contact information provided in the email or on the invoice. Independently look up the contact information for the office to call, email, or stop by in person to ask about it.

If you get a potential scam email like this, you are asked not to respond or provide any information. It is also recommended that you reach out to your local law enforcement agency to let them know about the potential scam, and they will give any necessary next steps as well as keep track of any trends related to the scam in the area.