McAllen Officials Warn Residents of Email Scam Requesting City Compensation Fee

Email Scam

City officials in McAllen, Texas, are alerting residents to a fraudulent email scam that has been circulating, asking recipients to pay a bogus city compensation fee. The scam email, which comes from an inbox ending with “at US dot com,” falsely claims to be related to project applications and includes an attached invoice requesting payment.

Scam Targets McAllen Residents

The email has been designed to deceive residents into believing that they owe a fee to the City of McAllen. However, officials confirm that no such fee exists, and the email is part of a broader phishing scam.

“City officials say the email concerning a city compensation fee is a scam.”

The fraudulent message typically asks for payment and provides an attached invoice for a “city compensation fee” related to project applications. Officials are emphasizing that McAllen never sends invoices via email, especially for fees that do not exist.

How to Identify the Scam

Residents are being warned to be cautious of any emails that come from unusual addresses or request unexpected payments. The telltale sign of this scam is the inbox address ending in “at US dot com” and the mention of a city compensation fee.

City officials have outlined steps for identifying and avoiding this scam:

• Check the Email Address: Look for unusual email addresses that are not associated with official city communications.
• Ignore Payment Requests: McAllen does not issue fees or invoices through email.
• Do Not Open Attachments: Scam emails often contain malicious attachments that can harm your computer or steal personal information.

Reporting the Scam

McAllen officials are urging residents who receive the email to report it as junk mail and delete it immediately. They also advise against opening any attachments or responding to the email. Residents are encouraged to stay vigilant and report suspicious communications to city officials or local authorities.

“Those who received the email should ignore it, not open the attachment, and of course, report it as junk mail.”

Phishing and Fraud Prevention

Phishing scams like this one are becoming increasingly common, as scammers seek to exploit unsuspecting individuals through deceptive emails. These scams often use official-sounding language and fraudulent invoices to trick recipients into making payments or sharing personal information.

Tips for Avoiding Scams

• Verify Sources: Always double-check that any requests for payment come from an official source.
• Stay Informed: Regularly check city websites and official communications for any alerts about scams.
• Use Security Software: Keep your computer’s security software up to date to protect against phishing attempts.