City Warns People of Scam 'Vermin Control of New York' Notices

NEW YORK, NY — Recently, many people throughout the city have become skeptical of "Vermin Control of New York" letters they received. The NYC Department of Health wants people to be aware that these letters are scams.

“Unscrupulous people are mailing fraudulent violation notices acting as the Health Department’s Division of Pest Control,” said Assistant Commissioner for Pest Control Services Mario Merlino. “New Yorkers should know that the Health Department never issues a notice of violation demanding immediate payment."

The notice is printed on fake NYC Health Department letterhead and is sent through U.S. mail. It claims to come from the "Rodent Control Program Assessment." The notice asks for residents to send immediate payment for amounts ranging from $120 to $280 to “Vermin Control of New York” at 1255 150th Street, Whitestone, NY 11357.

The Health Department said they will never request direct payments for violations. Residents who receive these letters are asked to immediately contact 311 or the Health Department.

A copy of the fake notice can be found here.

Photo via Alexey Krasavin/Flickr