Scam Alert: Lafayette Residents Targeted by Fake City Invoice Emails

LAMORINDA, CA — Lafayette officials are warning residents and property owners about a recent wave of scam emails that impersonate Lafayette city departments and request fraudulent payments. The emails, which may appear official and include City of Lafayette logos or formal language, are not from the city.

How the Scam Works

Scammers are sending emails from addresses, falsely claiming to be from the city or the planning commission. These messages often reference real property addresses and project types drawn from public records and include a fake invoice as a PDF attachment. Fees listed may include:

• application review & processing
• zoning & compliance assessment
• legal & administration
• public notification and documentation

The emails instruct recipients to reply for wire transfer instructions and return a signed invoice with payment. They may also falsely claim that payment is required to move forward with a city application.

Scammers often mimic official communications, and similar tactics are used in many types of fraud, authorities said. Official City emails end with @ci.lafayette.ca.us or @lovelafayette.org, authorities said.

Residents should be alert for:

• Urgent or threatening language pushing quick action
• Unusual payment methods such as wire transfers, cryptocurrency, or gift cards
• Requests for sensitive information like passwords or one-time codes
• Suspicious language or formatting, including typos or awkward phrasing
• Unknown senders or unexpected links

Legitimate invoices come only from official city emails, and staff are available by phone or in person, authorities said.

Anyone who receives a suspicious email claiming to be from the city should not respond, click links, or send payment, according to city officials, who said the city "will never request payment via wire transfer, cryptocurrency, or gift cards." Online payments are processed through secure platforms like Square, according to city officials.

For more information, visit www.lovelafayette.org.

Contact the City directly using verified phone numbers:

• Planning Department: (925) 284-1976
• Public Works & Engineering: (925) 284-195
• Main Office: (925) 284-1968