Fraudulent Bill Scam Targeting Northbrook Residents And Businesses

NORTHBROOK, IL — A fraudulent email scam is targeting Northbrook residents and businesses. According to officials, the scammers are sending messages that falsely claim to be from the Village, using addresses like planning.northbrook.il@usa.com or other public email services, but they are not legitimate Village email addresses.

The scam email will include a fake invoice requesting a wire transfer payment, which we do not accept as a valid form of payment. The invoice falsely uses the Village of Northbrook's address.

Officials are taking this matter seriously. To ensure the legitimacy of any bills or invoices, residents are advised to:

• Carefully review the sender’s email address. All official Village of Northbrook emails will end with @northbrook.il.us.
• Never respond to emails requesting payment through links or attachments.
• Verify any invoices or bills directly through the Village’s secure website. From the homepage, click the “Pay My Bill” button. You will then see options for departments such as Utility Billing or the Building Department.
• For example, if you select the Building Department, you will be asked to enter your name, address, or invoice number. Any valid fee or permit will then display along with your address, permit type, and fee amount. If you select Utility Billing, you will be asked to enter your account number.

Residents are encouraged to use this secure system to confirm the validity of any charges and avoid falling victim to phishing scams. Anyone who believes they have been targeted by this scam should immediately contact the Northbrook Police Department's non-emergency line at 847-564-2060 or, for additional information, contact Village Hall at 847-272-5050, between 8:30 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday.