Napa County Warns Public About Phishing Emails

NAPA COUNTY, CA —Napa County was made aware of phishing emails impersonating countydepartments and staff, requesting wire transfers or payments for permits or applications.

"These emails may appear legitimate at first glance, but they are fraudulent," county officials said.

The county offered the following ways residents can protect themselves from phishing scams:

• Check the sender’s email address carefully. Official county addresses will always end in @countyofnapa.org, not generic domains like @usa.com.
• When in doubt, contact the county directly using official phone numbers or email addresses listed on its website, www.countyofnapa.org.
• Do not send payment or personal information via email unless you are absolutely sure it is a legitimate request.
• Be wary of urgent requests. Scammers often use threatening language to create a sense of urgency to pressure people into taking action quickly.
• Never share personal information like passwords, social security numbers or bank account details. Watch out for suspicious links. Before clicking on any link, see the actual web address by hovering over it with your mouse or cursor.
• Check for poor grammar and spelling. Most phishing emails and messages contain grammatical errors and typos.
• Be skeptical of unsolicited offers promising prizes, refunds or deals that seem too good to be true. Report suspicious messages to the FBI's Internet Crime Complaint Center at www.ic3.gov.
• Spread the word to protect others from falling victim to such scams.