Scam alert: Fake Fernandina Beach city invoices target property owners

Fernandina Beach police are warning property owners not to send money or provide financial information in response to unexpected city invoices after multiple people received fraudulent bills and contract approval letters from scammers posing as city officials.

The city issued the fraud alert after learning that property owners had been targeted with documents made to appear as though they came from the city. Officials did not say how many people received the fraudulent correspondence, whether anyone paid the scammers or how much money was requested.

“The City will not ask citizens to wire money in response to an invoice or unexpected email,” the alert said.

Police are urging anyone who receives an unexpected invoice, payment demand or email purportedly from the city to verify it directly with the appropriate city department before taking any action.

City officials said legitimate email from city employees generally follows a format using the employee's first initial and last name and comes from an official address ending in @fbfl.city or @fbfl.org.

Residents should not click links or open attachments if they are uncertain about the source of a message. Other warning signs include suspicious email addresses, unusual wording, spelling errors, demands for immediate action or requests for payment through unfamiliar methods.

The city also warned residents not to wire money or provide personal or financial information until they have independently confirmed that the request is legitimate.

 Anyone who receives a fraudulent invoice or believes they have been targeted by the scam should contact the Fernandina Beach Police Department at 904-277-7342.