WASHINGTON COURT HOUSE, Ohio — City officials are warning residents about a scam in which fraudsters are posing as the city’s building and zoning inspector to send fake invoices demanding payment.
The city said in a Facebook post that it has received reports of individuals falsely claiming to represent the Washington Court House Building and Zoning Inspector’s office and sending fictitious invoices by email.
Residents who receive an invoice purportedly from the building and zoning inspector and are unsure of its legitimacy should call the inspector’s office directly at 740-636-2353 before making any payment, the city said.
Washington Court House is the Fayette County seat and had a population of about 14,400 at the 2020 census.
Government impersonation scams, in which criminals pose as public officials or agencies to collect fraudulent payments, have become increasingly common nationwide. The Federal Trade Commission advises consumers to independently verify any unexpected invoice or payment demand directly with the agency it claims to be from before sending money.
The information contained in this story was obtained from the City of Washington Court House.
