Scammers are sending fake invoices to Oklahoma City permit and zoning applicants, and the emails may contain real details about their projects.
The city issued a public warning Thursday, Sept. 24, telling residents, developers and business owners to watch for fraudulent emails requesting payment for permits and other development applications. Some applicants have already received emails falsely claiming they owe money before their applications can be approved or processed. The messages can include actual project information, making them harder to spot.
The scams look real.
Fake emails may carry the city seal, official-looking signatures and professional language, according to the city's alert. Scammers often pressure recipients with urgent deadlines, claiming a payment must be made immediately to avoid delays, penalties, or denial of an application. Be suspicious of urgent payment requests and/or wire transfers.
The city said in its warning that phishing scams are growing more sophisticated, with scammers using artificial intelligence to generate convincing emails and invoices.
How to spot a fake
The city offered several red flags for applicants to watch:
- Check the sender's address. Official city emails end in @okc.gov. A fake address could have misspellings, extra letters or a different website domain.
- Do not click unexpected payment links. Go directly to the city's website or payment portal at okc.gov/access.
- Watch for unusual payment methods. Verify any request to send money through an account or method not previously used with the city, especially wire transfers.
- Do not reply to suspicious messages. Contact the city using information from OKC.gov, not from the email itself.
Legitimate city invoices come only from official city sources or directly from the staff member working with an applicant, the city said.
Where to pay and who to call
In-person payments can be made at the James Couch Municipal Building, 420 W. Main St., Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Electronic payments go through the OKC Citizen Portal at okc.gov/access.
Applicants who want to verify a Planning Department invoice can call 405-297-1624 or email [email protected].
The city did not say how many applicants have been targeted or whether any money has been lost to the scam.
