|
The Division of Local Government Services Training Program is warning local governments to be aware of fraudulent invoices being sent to applicants before planning and zoning boards throughout NYS.
The Local Government Training staff have been receiving an increased number of reports of fraudulent activity surrounding land use review in communities across the state. These invoices appear to come from the municipality for increased project review costs.
Municipalities with regularly updated municipal websites are required by Open Meetings Law section 103(e) to upload applications and project files before planning and zoning boards to their municipal websites. These applications usually include information about applicants including names, physical addresses, email addresses, phone numbers, etc.
Scammers have been utilizing this information to access and pull personal information from applications and project files to create and send fake invoices that appear to be from municipalities to applicants before the land use review boards for additional project review costs and/or for county referral fees.
DOS Recommendations:
To combat fraudulent activity and protect applicants, while adhering to the requirements of Open Meetings Law, the Division of Local Government Services recommends these actions:
- Redact email addresses, phone numbers and any other sensitive or financial information from application files before being made available to the public. Names of property owners and/or applicants and physical addresses are public records that should not be redacted and be available to the public.
- Post warnings of fraudulent activity on your municipal websites and remind applicants to reach out to the municipality if they receive any questionable correspondence from anyone representing a municipality.
- Make schedule of fees and other project review costs easy to access on municipal websites along with applications and other supporting documents.
If you have any questions about this or any other land use or local government questions, the Local Government Training staff is available to provide technical assistance to local officials. Please call 518-473-3355 or email localgov@dos.ny.gov for assistance. Thank you.
|
|
The Division of Local Government Services
The Department of State’s Local Government Training staff teaches land use planning, regulation, local governance and procedure to local appointed and elected officials at county and regional workshops across the state. The staff is also available to assist members of planning boards, zoning boards of appeals, local governing boards, and municipal staff with technical assistance, information, explanations, tips and examples of successful approaches to land use and other local regulations.
Members of planning boards and zoning boards of appeals are required by state statute to obtain four hours of training a year. On-site and online interactive training courses offered by Local Government Training staff count toward this requirement.
To discuss scheduling a training workshop or obtain other assistance, call the Local Government Training program at 518-473-3355 or email localgov@dos.ny.gov.
|
|
|
|
