County of Monterey warns of fake invoices in planning projects

MONTEREY COUNTY, Calif. (KION-TV) -- The County of Monterey has warned those involved in Planning Commission projects of fake invoices.

The invoices received request payments of over $14,000 from businesses and people involved with current or upcoming Planning Commission projects.

At least three recipients received the invoices, including All Saints Day School.

The request the school receives calls for payments in permitting fees for a project scheduled to go before the County's Planning Commission complete with an official. Yet, the invoice was not issued by the County themselves.

All Saints Day School's Chief Financial Officer flagged the invoice.

“These fraudulent invoices are deeply concerning, as they exploit the trust between our
County and those doing business with us. We encourage applicants and businesses to exercise care and verify any invoice they receive before making a payment,” said County Administrative Officer Sonia M. De La Rosa.

As for tips on how to stay safe, the County says that businesses and business partners should verify the source, contact the county directly, report suspicious activity and not reply to suspicious emails.

The County is investigating the fraudulent invoices with the Monterey County Sheriff's Office.