Saratoga warns residents of phishing scams targeting Planning Commission applicants

The City of Saratoga has issued a public notice reminding residents to exercise caution regarding payment scams. Officials report receiving multiple complaints about fraudulent phishing emails directed at individuals with matters pending before the Planning Commission.

According to the announcement, scammers are impersonating City of Saratoga planning staff members and Planning Commissioners to deceive applicants. The City emphasizes that legitimate employee email addresses utilize the @saratoga.ca.us domain. Additionally, the City states it will never request payment via wire transfer.

Residents who receive suspicious communications claiming to originate from the City are advised to verify the authenticity of any invoice or email before taking action. To confirm the legitimacy of a message, individuals can contact the planning department at planning@saratoga.ca.us or call (408) 868-1222.

This warning aims to protect applicants from financial fraud and ensure that official city business is conducted through verified channels. The City encourages vigilance as these scams continue to target those involved in local planning processes.

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