Town issues ‘fraud alert’ after scammers demand fake application fees

Attention, Concordians — that’s not the town hitting you up for money. 

Officials say residents should be on the lookout after scammers sent emails and texts claiming people owed extra fees for applications already before the Planning Board, the Zoning Board of Appeals, and the Historic Districts Commission. 

Authorities have notified police, and town staff emphasize that they don’t send invoices for legitimate application fees. People must pay those costs in person when they submit their application. 

Town Communications Manager Donna McIntosh told The Acton Bridge that “this rose to our attention a couple of months ago” when people reached out with questions about suspicious messages.

McIntosh said “there’s been a little flurry” of new reports, and officials posted a “fraud alert” on the town website Thursday. 

Homeowners and business owners go before town boards for projects ranging from new constructions to smaller-scale renovations.

McIntosh shared a copy of one suspicious email that claimed “staff have recommended approval of your application.” 

The scammers asked their target to settle an attached invoice and said it was required to move toward formal approval.

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​​Among the red flags:

• The scammers asked for a wire transfer — something the town doesn’t request.
• The scammers told the applicant to respond only via email.
• The request came from an email address with the domain “usa.com,” rather than the legitimate “concordma.gov.”
• The scammers claimed to represent the nonexistent “Town of Acton Planning Commission” rather than the actual “Town of Acton Planning Board.”

McIntosh said the inquiries are “all pretty much the same.” She said she hasn’t heard from anyone who said they sent the scammers money. 

Acton Police Capt. Brian Goldman said CPD is investigating, but officials haven’t identified a culprit.

Planning Division Office Coordinator Heather Carey said one applicant brought staff a copy of a fake invoice on Wednesday. Staff fielded two calls Thursday morning from other applicants. 

Carey said officials reached out to everyone with pending applications “to make them aware.” She said staff think they’ve identified at least five scam attempts. 

Officials urge anyone who receives a suspicious message or has questions about application fees to contact the Planning Division at (978) 318-3290 or [email protected].

“Hopefully we can get the word out, and people won’t fall for it,” McIntosh said.