Did Coral Gables just bill you? Someone is impersonating the city, using real info

Double check before paying that Coral Gables invoice.

The city is sounding the alarm over fraudulent invoices that are directing permit applicants, residents and businesses to pay a fraudster by wire transfer.

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“The City of Coral Gables will never ask an applicant or customer to pay a city invoice by wire transfer,” the city said in a news release Wednesday.

The fabricated invoices, at least at first glance, might look real enough. The city said the fake invoices look like they’re from city departments, boards or officials and may even use real permit and development application information — including names, property addresses, application numbers and other project details — to confuse you.

“In one reported instance, a false invoice related to a historic preservation application claimed that payment was required before the city could finalize the application,” the city said. “The recipient was directed to request payment instructions by email, wire the funds, and return a copy of the transfer receipt.”

The city is asking residents and businesses to be wary of any payment requests that have unusual or unfamiliar email addresses and payment instructions, including orders to communicate only by email or to pay by wire transfer. Other red flags to watch out for include forms that “demand immediate or urgent payment” and “state that an application or approval will be delayed unless payment is made.”

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The Miami Herald has contacted the city to learn more about the scam. The city’s news release states that many of the details the scammers are using to make their invoices appear legitimate come from publicly available information and that similar schemes have been reported in other areas.

“Anyone who receives an unexpected invoice should not use the contact information included in the correspondence,” the city warns. “Instead, contact the appropriate city department directly using the information published at coralgables.com to verify” the invoice legitimacy.

The city is asking anyone who received a suspicious invoice to keep a copy of all the correspondence and contact Coral Gables police.

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