The Churchill County Sheriff’s Office is urging all residents and businesses to stay vigilant after a deceptive email began circulating in the community. The message pretends to be from the County Planning and Zoning Department and claims that recipients owe outstanding fees, directing them to arrange a wire transfer to a specified account.

Official response

County officials stress that Planning and Zoning never conducts business in this manner. “We will never ask anyone to wire money to pay fees,” said a spokesperson for the department. “Any request for payment that comes via email and asks for a wire transfer is a clear red flag and should be ignored.”

How to recognize the scam

The Sheriff’s Office has compiled a short list of practical steps to help the public identify and avoid the fraudulent request:

• Check the sender’s address. Authentic county employees use the domain @churchillcountynv.gov. Any variation, such as a generic Gmail or Outlook address, indicates a fake.
• Do not respond or follow payment instructions. Legitimate county communications will never ask you to wire money.
• Avoid clicking links or opening attachments. Suspicious emails often contain malicious links or files that can compromise your computer.
• Verify any fee request directly. If you receive an unexpected notice, call the Planning and Zoning office at (775) 423‑7627 to confirm its authenticity.

What to do if you’re unsure

Anyone who is uncertain about the legitimacy of an email or payment demand should contact the department before taking any action. The Sheriff’s Office encourages community members to forward suspicious messages to the department’s dedicated email address for further investigation.

Why the warning matters

Wire‑transfer scams have risen nationwide, targeting both individuals and small businesses. By acting quickly and sharing accurate information, local law‑enforcement hopes to prevent financial loss and protect the trust that residents place in county services.

Additional resources

For more information on protecting yourself from email fraud, the Sheriff’s Office recommends visiting the Nevada Attorney General’s consumer‑protection page and reviewing the Federal Trade Commission’s guide on online scams.

Stay alert, verify before you pay, and report any suspicious activity to keep Churchill County safe.

Original reporting: 2news.com — read the source article.