HANAHAN, S.C. — Hanahan police are warning residents and business owners to be on alert after reports surfaced of scammers posing as city planning officials in an attempt to collect fraudulent permit fees.
According to the Hanahan Police Department, multiple community members have recently reported receiving invoices that appear to come from the City of Hanahan Planning Commission requesting payment for planning and zoning-related fees.
Police say the emails are fraudulent and part of a nationwide phishing scheme that has prompted a warning from the FBI.
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“These emails are phishing attempts and are not legitimate,” the department said in a Facebook post Friday.
Scammers Mimicking Government Agencies
Authorities say recent scam emails have originated from addresses such as “[email protected]” and “[email protected].”
While the messages may appear official, police emphasized that neither email address belongs to the City of Hanahan.
Officials noted that all legitimate city email addresses end with the domain “cityofhanahan.com.”
The warning comes as the FBI reports an increase in phishing schemes targeting individuals and businesses with active land-use, planning and zoning applications.
According to a recent FBI Public Service Announcement, scammers are using publicly available permit information to create convincing emails that include real property addresses, permit numbers and the names of actual city and county officials.
Victims are then instructed to pay permit-related fees through wire transfers, peer-to-peer payment platforms or cryptocurrency.
How the Scam Works
The FBI says the fraudulent messages often look nearly identical to legitimate government communications. They may include official-sounding language, detailed permit information and PDF invoices designed to appear authentic.
In some cases, scammers time their emails to coincide with ongoing conversations between applicants and local government agencies, making the requests seem even more credible.
The agency also warns that many of the fraudulent email addresses closely resemble those used by government departments but originate from non-government domains.
Protecting Yourself
The FBI and Hanahan Police Department are urging residents to verify any unexpected payment requests before sending money.
Officials recommend:
- Carefully checking the sender’s email address and domain.
- Contacting the city or county directly using a publicly listed phone number.
- Visiting official government websites to verify permit-related fees and communications.
- Being cautious of requests for payment via wire transfer, cryptocurrency or peer-to-peer payment services.
Residents should not assume an email is legitimate simply because it contains government logos, official names or accurate permit information.
Report Suspected Fraud
Anyone who believes they may have received one of the fraudulent emails or fallen victim to the scheme is encouraged to contact the Hanahan Police Department at (843) 747-5711.
Law enforcement officials say awareness remains one of the most effective tools in preventing additional victims as the scam continues to surface in communities across the country.
The FBI has indicated that victims of the scheme have already been identified nationwide, underscoring the importance of verifying any permit-related payment requests before taking action.
