The Atlantic Beach Police Department has released a statement alerting residents of a phishing scam targeting residents that uses official-looking emails about a "proposed landscaping project" and demanding an "application approval fee," via wire transfer.
The City of Atlantic Beach wants residents to be aware of the scam and that the government entity would never request payments by wire transfer, as all legitimate payments are made through the city’s official website or in person at City Hall.
While the wire transfer request is a major red flag, there are several other steps residents can take to determine if an email they receive is a scam, according to the Atlantic Beach Police Department.
This includes verifying the sender by always making sure to double-check the email address, because some fake addresses can be tricky to spot at first glance.
Threats of certain project delays if demands are not met are another big warning sign when it comes to scams attempting to appear from a government department.
Not clicking links attached or replying to emails that appear in question is another good procedure to follow, as well as confirming the sender directly by contacting the City of Atlantic Beach to verify by calling 904-247-5800 or emailing info@coab.us.
The best steps to take once a threat of a scam is detected is to delete the email immediately and notify local law enforcement. The Atlantic Beach Police Department’s non-emergency telephone number is 904-247-5859.
