Police Warn Of Fraudsters Impersonating Fremont City Staff To Collect Fake Fees

FREMONT, CA — City workers sending emails demanding fees? Police suggest holding off for a minute before sending that money.

Fremont police say scammers are impersonating city employees and demanding money from residents.

These scammers pretend to be from the Planning, Building and Safety, or other divisions within the city, and try to collect fake payments or fines related to permits or applications, according to the Fremont Police Department.

"Scammers may send emails or letters stating that you owe an immediate payment," Fremont police said in a statement Monday afternoon. "In some cases, the email account name may display 'City of Fremont,' but the email address itself is fraudulent."

The emails may look like "CityOfFremont@usa.com," or "Fremont@Fremont.com, police said.

The Fremont Police Department recommends the following tips to avoid becoming the victim of this scam:

• Check the sender's full email address, not just the display name
• Verify emails by contacting the appropriate departments by using information found on the city of Fremont's official website.
• Do not click on links or suspicious attachments
• Report suspect scams by calling 510-790-6800 and pressing option 3.
• Never send payments or personal info to unexpected requests

"Your vigilance helps keep our community safe from fraud," police said. "Please share this message with friends, neighbors, and family members."