Cook County officials issued warnings last week about a recent scam targeting residents who have applied to or contacted the Cook County Land Services department. Scammers impersonate Land Services staff via email, sending messages to people who have recently applied for or contacted the department. The emails request a fee to receive the variance they applied for, sometimes as much as $7,000, and demand payment via wire transfer.
Cook County government, including Land Services, is committed to your safety and will never contact you by email requesting payment via wire transfer. If you receive such an email, you may disregard it or contact the office that supposedly sent it. These scammers are sophisticated, and their email may appear official. Still, you should always verify the accuracy of the sender’s email address. In this case, the scammers used planning.co.cook. mn@usa.com, and the @usa.com email domain is a red flag.
The fraudulent emails create a false sense of urgency, which is another red flag. According to county officials, this scam is also occurring in other Minnesota counties. If you receive one of these emails, do not respond to the email or click any links, and delete the message, reporting it as spam. Your vigilance and reporting are crucial in combating these scams. This is a good practice for any unusual email you receive that asks for payment or personal information.
If you have any questions about a payment request from Land Services, contact the department directly by calling 218-387-3630.
Scams targeting individuals who interact with government agencies, particularly those related to land and property, are widespread, part of a broader category of fraud known as “government impersonation scams.” The FBI reports that real estate and rental scams are a growing threat, with reported losses in the hundreds of millions of dollars annually.
Scammers often impersonate officials via email or phone. They use sophisticated methods, such as creating fake email domains that closely resemble official ones (e.g., @usa.com instead of @co.cook. mn.us). They often target individuals who are already in the process of a transaction, such as applying for a permit, to make the request seem legitimate. They may pressure victims with a sense of urgency.
The scam typically involves a request for a substantial sum of money. It requires that the transaction be completed through an irreversible method, such as a wire transfer, gift card, or cryptocurrency. The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) and other organizations consistently warn that no legitimate government agency will ever demand payment via these methods or threaten you with immediate arrest for non-payment.
Finally, always refrain from disclosing sensitive information, such as Social Security numbers and account numbers, to anyone who contacts you unexpectedly via phone, email, or text, even if they claim to be from a government agency or financial institution. Government agencies (like the IRS or Social Security Administration) and banks will never contact you “out of the blue” to ask for this type of information. They typically handle sensitive matters through official mail or secure online portals that you access yourself.
If you receive a call that seems suspicious, hang up immediately. Caller ID can be faked. Do not trust it.
This practice is the most effective way to protect yourself from common government and banking imposter scams, which are designed to steal your identity and money.
