NORTH FORK, NY — Southold Town is warning the public to be aware of fraudulent emails appearing to come from the zoning board.
According to a notice posted online recently, Southold Town officials said they wanted residents to understand the following:
- The Zoning Board of Appeals does not solicit or demand fee payments by email and does not contact residents or applicants by email to request money.
- These emails are not sent from the town's email system and are not associated with the Town of Southold, its offices, or its employees. The town's name is being used without authorization, officials said.
- Legitimate town business is conducted through official channels. Application fees are set by the town code and paid through the town's established processes at Town Hall and the ZBA office — never through an unsolicited email demanding immediate payment.
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For those who received one of those emails, town officials urged residents to:
- Do not pay. Do not send money, wire transfers, gift cards, or payment information in response.
- Do not click links or open attachments, and do not reply with personal or financial information.
- Check the sender's address. Official town email comes from an "@southoldtownny.gov" or "town.southold.ny.us" address. Because scammers can also disguise, or "spoof," a real address, when in doubt, verify directly rather than relying on the address alone.
- Verify directly. Contact the Town of Southold's zoning board of appeals to confirm whether any request is genuine before acting.
- Report it. Report the email to the town, and consider filing a report with the Southold Town Police Department (non-emergency), the FTC at ReportFraud.ftc.gov, the FBI at ic3.gov, and the New York State Attorney General's office.
"Anyone who has already sent money or shared financial information in response to one of these messages should contact their bank or card issuer immediately and report the incident to the Southold Town Police Department at 631-765-2600," town officials said. "The town takes the misuse of its name seriously and is taking appropriate steps to address the matter."
Official updates will be posted here, town officials said.