Jonesboro, AR – Contributed – The City of Jonesboro is warning residents about a recent scam targeting individuals with applications reviewed before the Planning Commission.
The city recently became aware of fraudulent emails claiming to be from the City of Jonesboro Planning Commission requesting payment to finalize zoning or variance applications. These messages instruct recipients to complete payment through wire transfer and include a fake invoice for application-related fees.
An example of the scam email includes a fraudulent invoice requesting an application review, zoning, legal, and administrative fees, along with instructions to send payment by wire transfer.
City officials want residents to know that these messages are not from the City of Jonesboro. Important reminders for residents:
- The City of Jonesboro does NOT request payments through wire transfers.
- The City’s Planning Department does NOT request cash payments through email.
- The only official systems used by the City of Jonesboro Planning Department and Collections Department for invoicing and online payments are iWorQ and Springbrook.
City officials also remind residents that official City employee email addresses end in @jonesboroar.gov.
Any legitimate invoices or payment requests from the City’s Planning Department will come through official City channels and the iWorQ system.
What to do if you receive a suspicious email:
- Do not send money or provide financial information.
- Do not respond to the sender.
- Contact the City of Jonesboro’s Planning Department to verify the request at (870) 932-0406.
Residents who receive suspicious messages claiming to be from the City of Jonesboro’s Planning Department are encouraged to report them to the Jonesboro Police Department directly at the following link: File a Report — Jonesboro Police Department.