The Surfside Police Department is warning residents, contractors and business owners about a recent increase in sophisticated email scams targeting applicants seeking Planning and Zoning approvals, building permits and commercial sign approvals.
Criminals are sending fraudulent invoices that appear to come from the Town, requesting payment by wire transfer. In some cases, the emails include the names of actual Town employees and project details obtained from publicly available records, making the messages appear legitimate.
The Town reminds applicants that all official Town correspondence is sent only from email addresses ending in @townofsurfsidefl.gov. Emails from misspelled domains, free email accounts or other unofficial addresses should be treated as suspicious.
The Town never requests payment by wire transfer. Permit and application fees are never collected through wire transfers. If you receive an email asking you to confirm payment before sending a wire transfer, it is fraudulent. Do not respond, click any links or send money.
Know the Warning Signs
Be cautious if you receive an email that includes any of the following:
- Requests for payment by wire transfer, cryptocurrency, gift cards or peer-to-peer payment apps.
- Urgent language claiming your application will be delayed, denied or penalized unless payment is made immediately.
- Unexpected invoices or instructions to reply directly for payment details.
- Poor grammar, spelling mistakes or inconsistent project information.
- Requests to keep the matter confidential or avoid contacting Town staff.
- Links or attachments you were not expecting.
To protect yourself, always verify payment requests directly with the Town before taking action. Applicants with questions should contact the Building Department at (305) 861-4863 and use the Town's official Customer Self Service Portal for permit applications and payments.
Anyone who receives a suspected fraudulent email should report it immediately.