Police Issue Urgent Warning To Wisconsin Residents
You probably could have assumed this by now but there's another scam you should know about. This one has been reported in Wisconsin.
This scam has to do with fraudulent invoices. I don't know about you but if I got an invoice, I would probably think it was real. Why not?
If you live in Wisconsin, take note of this scam, as it can have detrimental impacts on you and your finances.
As with any scam, it's unlikely that you will ever see your money again if you accidentally give it away to a scammer.
Fake Invoice Scam Reported In Stevens Point, Wisconsin
This scam was first reported by the Stevens Point Police Department, which is located about four hours from the Duluth area. This scam could happen anywhere, and even jump state lines to Minnesota.
RELATED: Beware Of This Minnesota Fishing License Scam
According to their scam warning, residents have been getting fake invoices from city departments. These invoices look legitimate, with one local reporting that the fake invoice appeared to be from the Planning & Zoning Commission.
How This Fake Invoice Scam Works
Scammers have been reaching out to locals in the area with these fake invoices, telling them they owe the city for things like an inspection or application reviews.
They are asked to transfer the money via wire transfer. They are asking for thousands for these services.
How To Protect Yourself From This Fake Invoice Scam
The Stevens Point Police Department is offering some pretty good tips on how to look out for this scam and any more scams that pop up in the future, because of course there will be some.
RELATED: Be On The Lookout For This Wisconsin Public Service Scam
Their tips include the following:
Make sure the email address ends in '@stevenspoint.com' or another verified government name
Make sure there is a phone number, as official organizations wouldn't send an email or invoice without one
Be on the lookout for vague invoices without much detail
Contact City Hall if you want to see if an email or invoice is legitimate
I would definitely fall for something like this because it is hard to keep up with all of the different scams and all of the different invoices we get for different things.
The Stevens Point Police Department seconds this thought, sharing just how detailed the scam is, writing:
This scam appears sophisticated, with detailed formatting and false itemization to appear credible. We urge everyone to remain cautious and report any suspicious invoices or communications.