The City of Orange Police Department has been made aware of a fraudulent email scam in which an individual is posing as Kelvin Knauf, the Director of City of Orange Planning & Community Development Department and sending invoices requesting payment by wire transfer. The scam email is being sent from: planningdept.orangetexas.gov@usa.com. This email address is NOT associated with the City of Orange. The fraudulent invoice uses the City of Orange name, address, and logo and requests a wire payment. The document instructs recipients to reply to the email to obtain wiring instructions.
Important Information for Citizens:
The City of Orange will NEVER request payment by wire transfer, official City correspondence will only come from verified City email accounts, and citizens should not reply to the suspicious email or send any money.
What To Do:
If you receive this email or any similar suspicious request, contact the City of Orange Police Department or contact the City of Orange Planning & Community Development Department using official phone numbers listed on the City’s website.
Red Flags in This Scam:
- Email from a non-government domain (@usa.com)
- Request for wire transfer payment
- Instructions to reply to the email for payment details
- Unexpected invoice for “approval fees”
The City of Orange takes this matter seriously and is actively investigating. We encourage all residents and businesses to remain vigilant and verify any payment requests before acting.
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COPY OF SPAM EMAIL
Dear
I hope this email finds you well.
This message serves as an official reminder regarding the outstanding Application Review & Approval Fee associated with your Certificate of Appropriateness Application for the property located at.
To proceed with the final approval process, we kindly request that you settle the attached invoice for the application review & approval fee at your earliest convenience. Timely payment of this fee is crucial to ensuring the smooth progression of your permit application through all required review and approval stages, including necessary compliance evaluations.
Importance of the Application Review & Approval Fee:
Your fee payment directly supports a number of critical functions within the commission and benefits the state by ensuring an efficient and thorough review process. Specifically, the fee contributes to:
- Comprehensive Application Review:
- Enables our team to conduct an in-depth evaluation of your proposed project to verify compliance with local zoning, land use, and building regulations.
- Approval Processing:
- Funds the administrative tasks required to verify documentation, coordinate internal reviews, and prepare your application for presentation to the Planning Commission.
- Regulatory Compliance Evaluation:
- Ensures that your project meets all applicable statutory and regulatory requirements, safeguarding public safety and maintaining planning integrity.
- Expert Reviews:
- Supports consultations with planning professionals, legal advisors, and technical experts who rigorously assess the feasibility and impact of your proposal.
- Contract Staff Payments:
- Provides compensation for contracted personnel and consultants who assist in the detailed review and processing of your application.
- Support for State and Local Planning Initiatives:
- Contributes to broader efforts to maintain effective land use policies and promote sustainable development practices across the state, ensuring that projects like yours align with our long-term economic and community development goals.
Next Steps:
- Reply to this email to request the invoice wire instructions.
- Settle the issued wire instructions in full to enable the approval process.
- Return a signed copy of the payment confirmation to this email for verification and inclusion into the commission agenda.
Should you have any questions or need further assistance regarding the payment process, do please reply this email. We appreciate your prompt attention to this matter and we look forward to assisting you further.
Thank you for your prompt attention to this matter.
Best regards,
Kelvin Knauf
Director
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Copy of SCAM INVOICE
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