Douglas County officials are alerting residents to an email scam that falsely claims to be from the County Planning Department and requests payment for permit approval fees.

The email says the recipient's “Special Use Permit application” has been approved and instructs them to complete payment via wire transfer or ACH.

It says to reply directly to the email to obtain payment instructions and emphasizes that communication must remain “via email only.”

This email is not legitimate.

County departments do not request sensitive financial transactions such as wire transfers or ACH payments solely through unsolicited email, nor do they require applicants to reply to email messages to receive payment instructions.

The following red flags are typically present in the scam message.

  • Unexpected approval notices for permits or applications you did not submit
  • Requests for wire transfer or ACH payments, especially with urgency
  • Instructions to reply directly to the email for payment details
  • Pressure to act quickly to “finalize” or “release” permits
  • Email-only communication requirements, discouraging phone or in-person verification
  • Generic or overly formal language that does not match typical County correspondence

Douglas County encourages people not to send money or financial information in response to unsolicited emails. People are also advised to verify directly with the county using official contact information from the County website.

Do not reply to suspicious emails or click on attachments or links, and check the sender's email address carefully.

You should consult County staff by phone or in person if you have an active application.

Douglas County emphasizes that legitimate fees:

  • Are clearly documented through official channels
  • Can be verified independently by the County staff
  • Do not require urgent payment via unsecured or unverifiable methods
  • Typically offer multiple secure payment options, not limited to wire transfer