Fraud Alert: Scam Emails Impersonating Town Boards and Officials
Town of Charlestown
These scam emails are designed to look official and may reference zoning applications, permits, invoices, or approvals.
In many cases,
they attempt to pressure recipients into sending payment, providing sensitive
information, or replying urgently in order to “complete” a Town process.
These messages are not legitimate and are not sent by the
Town of Charlestown.
How to recognize these scams
Scam messages often include:
- Requests
for payment by wire transfer, or electronic invoice
- A
request to reply directly to the email for payment instructions
- Language
that creates urgency or pressure to act quickly
The Town does not request payments, banking
information, or signatures through unsolicited emails.
How to verify legitimate Town communications
If you receive a message claiming to be from a Town
department or board:
- Do not reply
to the email
- Do not click
any links or open attachments
- Contact
the Town directly using phone numbers or email addresses listed on the
official Town website at https://charlestownri.gov/departments
You may also forward suspicious emails to the Town for
review.
If you believe you have been targeted
If you have received one of these messages or believe you
may have responded to one:
- Contact
the Town immediately
- Monitor
your financial accounts
- Report
the incident to local law enforcement
The Town is actively working to educate the public, Town
boards, and staff about these scams and to ensure residents know how to verify
legitimate communications. Public notices will continue to be posted as needed.
Charlestown remains committed to protecting residents and
maintaining the integrity of Town operations.
