Yates County officials are warning residents about a scam involving fraudulent emails impersonating county planning officials.

According to the county, the scam targets individuals with active applications under review by local town or village boards that require input from the Yates County Planning Board. Similar incidents have also been reported in neighboring counties.

Officials say the fraudulent emails attempt to solicit wire transfers, falsely claiming that payment is required as part of the planning review process. The county emphasized that these messages are not legitimate and are not sent from any official source.

Residents are reminded that all official Yates County email addresses end in “@yatescountyny.gov.” Any email from a different domain should be considered suspicious.

County officials also stressed that the Yates County Planning Board does not issue invoices or request payments directly from applicants, and no one should ever be asked to send money or complete a wire transfer as part of a planning review.

Anyone who receives a suspicious email related to a planning application is urged not to respond or send money. Instead, the incident should be reported immediately to the Yates County Sheriff’s Office.

Officials are also encouraging residents to share the warning with others involved in planning or development projects in Yates County and surrounding communities.

Authorities say staying alert and reporting suspicious activity can help prevent fraud across the region.