Marion warns of scam emails impersonating the Planning Board; Acushnet posted a similar alert this month

MARION The Town of Marion is warning residents and applicants about fraudulent emails from scammers impersonating the Marion Planning Board and soliciting payments. The town posted the alert on its news flash page Wednesday, Oct. 21.

The emails may use town letterhead, employee names, email signatures and official-looking documents to appear legitimate. Recipients may be instructed to submit payments through wire transfers or other suspicious payment methods to process applications or pay associated fees.

"These emails are fraudulent," the alert says. "Do not provide personal or financial information or send money in response to suspicious payment requests. The Town will never ask you to wire us money."

What to do if one arrives

Marion lists four precautions for anyone who receives an unexpected email or invoice claiming to be from the Marion Planning Board.

Verify the request. Contact the appropriate town department using a known, official telephone number, or visit the Town House to confirm the request is legitimate.

Check the sender's email address. Be cautious of unfamiliar or suspicious email addresses, even when a message appears to come from a town employee.

Be cautious of unexpected payment requests. Do not send money by wire transfer or follow payment instructions in a suspicious email without independently verifying the request first.

Do not click suspicious links or open unexpected attachments.

Anyone who believes they have been the victim of the scam should contact the Marion Police Department at 508-748-1212 to report the incident. The Town House is at 2 Spring St., open Monday through Thursday from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. and Friday from 8 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. The town's main phone line is 508-748-3500.

A similar alert in Acushnet

Acushnet posted a similar warning Oct. 6. The town said some applicants with pending permits or board applications had received emails pretending to be from town staff and asking for payment, and that it had happened at least twice recently.

In the Acushnet cases, the scammers appeared to use publicly available application information, like applicant names and project details, to make the messages look real. The emails used a town name in the From line but came from look-alike addresses that do not end in @acushnet.ma.us. They included an official-looking invoice with the town seal, demanded payment "upon receipt" by wire transfer only, and insisted that all communication stay in email.

Acushnet tells anyone who gets such a message not to pay, reply, or open links or attachments; to call the department directly using the phone number listed on the town website; and to report it to the Acushnet Police non-emergency line and to the Federal Trade Commission at reportfraud.ftc.gov.

"Please remain vigilant and use caution when responding to unexpected emails or requests for payment," the Marion alert says.

Label: Reported by us, from the town's posted records.