STEVENS POINT, WI (WSAU) — Scammers continue to change up their game to get your money.
The Stevens Point Police Department says one resident recently received a fake invoice for services from the Planning and Zoning Commission. They asked for a wire transfer of nearly $5,000 for application review, on-site inspection, and contract staff payment. The invoice called for the payments to be transferred immediately.
Example of a phony invoice scam circulating in Stevens Point. Image courtesy: Stevens Point PD
Lieutenant Joe Johnson with the Stevens Point Police Department says the scammers tip their hand several times in the message. The city will never press you for immediate payment via wire transfer and will never provide vague language in an invoice. All communication will also come from an official Stevens Point email address, which ends with @stevenspoint.com, and will include a telephone number for the department.
“This scam appears sophisticated, with detailed formatting and false itemization to appear credible,” said Johnson in a press release. “We urge everyone to remain cautious and report any suspicious invoices or communications.”
Anyone who receives one of these invoices is encouraged to report it to City Hall at 715-346-1501. Do not send money until you’ve received a verified balance from City Hall.
“That should be your first red flag, [thinking] ‘hey I have a bill here, for what?’ You should be asking questions; don’t just assume [you] owe money. be your own detective and look into things a little before you just write a check,” said Johnson.
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