Scam Emails Target Humboldt Permit Applicants, County Issues Alert
Humboldt County officials on November 7, 2025 warned residents about a series of fraudulent emails that pose as Planning Commission communications and ask for an application approval fee, often requesting wired funds. The notice matters to permit applicants, contractors, and property owners because the emails use real public record details and seek to steal money or personal information.
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Humboldt County authorities alerted residents on November 7, 2025 after the Planning and Building Department received multiple reports of a targeted email scam. The messages claim to be from the Humboldt County Planning Commission and sometimes identify as current or former county employees. They tell recipients that a permit application has been reviewed and approved, and that an application approval fee must be paid to finalize the approval.
Officials say the emails appear to mine information from publicly accessible documents such as agendas and application files, allowing scammers to include specific project details that lend the messages false credibility. The communications also include instructions for wiring funds to a private account as the method of payment. The county emphasizes that it does not charge an application approval fee and will never ask residents to mail large sums of cash, wire funds to a private account, provide credit card information over the phone, or pay with gift cards or prepaid money cards.
The county provided a direct line for residents who have questions about pending permits, advising them to call the Planning and Building Department at (707) 445-7541. The Humboldt County Sheriff’s Office encouraged anyone who believes they have been targeted or victimized to report the incident immediately by calling (707) 445-7251. The public notice also links to Federal Trade Commission resources for scam alerts and reporting.
Local impact could be significant because permit applicants often receive official notices and have legitimate reasons to expect follow up from county staff. Small contractors, homeowners working on renovations, and applicants who are less comfortable verifying official processes online may be especially vulnerable. The inclusion of project specific details drawn from public records increases the scam’s ability to deceive, erode trust in county communications, and impose financial and emotional costs on households and businesses.
This scheme fits a broader pattern seen globally in which social engineering operations exploit publicly available local government records to craft convincing fraudulent messages. Internationally informed practices for outreach suggest clear, multilingual guidance and community based assistance can help protect residents who use different languages or who are less familiar with digital payment norms. Humboldt County’s reminder to verify suspicious requests, to perform online searches for complaints, to avoid relying solely on caller identification or email names, and to talk with a trusted person before sending money addresses basic but effective precautions.
Residents with pending permits should confirm status through the official Planning and Building Department phone number. Anyone who suspects fraud is urged to report it to the Sheriff’s Office and to consult the FTC resources linked in the county notice for additional steps to protect themselves and their finances.
