Phishing scam targets permit applicants for thousands in bogus payments

Minnehaha County taking action to warn about false emails

Scammers have targeted people applying for conditional use permits from Minnehaha County, seeking to swindle them out of thousands of dollars, the leader of the Planning and Zoning Department is warning.

Three applicants for a conditional use permit received phishing emails that were purportedly from Minnehaha County, Planning and Zoning Director Scott Anderson told commissioners. They were among eight people who were applying for permits in the most recent action from the Planning Commission.

Phishing attacks attempt to convince people to part with money or personally identifying information using fake messages that purport to come from trusted entities. The attacks are also used by criminals who install malware that can gain control of a person’s computer or monitor their activity. Many of the attacks emanate from outside the United States.