(KNSI) – Sartell police are warning residents about a mail and email scam involving fraudulent invoices designed to look like official city documents.
The scam uses fake letterhead from a so-called “Planning Commission” bearing the City of Sartell logo. The invoices include an itemized breakdown totaling $5,954 for services like “Preliminary Plat Application Review” and “Safeguard Compliance Oversight,” and direct recipients to pay by wire transfer.
City Hall alerted the Sartell Police Department after learning of the mailings, which the city says are not legitimate.
The City of Sartell does not have a “Planning Commission” that sends invoices, and the city never requests payment exclusively by wire transfer. Official payments are only processed through the city’s community payment portal.
Residents who receive a suspicious invoice are urged not to respond or send payment. The city recommends looking up official contact numbers independently rather than using any number listed on a suspicious notice.
Anyone with questions about a development-related invoice can contact Kari Haakonson at 320-258-7312. For all other invoice questions, residents can reach Lydia Olson at 320-258-7316.
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