McHenry County Residents Warned of Email Permit Scams

McHenry, IL – McHenry County government officials are issuing a stern warning to residents regarding a sophisticated email scam targeting individuals who have recently submitted zoning or permit requests. The fraudulent emails are designed to appear legitimate by incorporating specific, real-world case details that have been scraped from the county’s public online meeting streams.

According to the county, the scammers operate by sending messages from a "mail.com" address, claiming that an applicant's permit has been approved. The emails then prompt the recipient to open an attached invoice and respond with a request for wire transfer instructions. The county explicitly stated that its Planning and Development Department never requests wire transfers for permit fees.

Authorities urge anyone who receives such a message to delete the email immediately and mark it as spam. Furthermore, clicking on links or opening attachments from suspicious sources can potentially expose personal devices to malware, viruses, or ransomware. All official county business is conducted exclusively through the "mchenrycountyil.gov" domain.

Residents who are currently in the process of applying for or paying for a permit should only do so through the official portal at https://www.mchenrycountyil.gov/depa.../planning-development. If you have any concerns regarding the legitimacy of a communication from the Planning and Development Department, please verify it by calling 815-334-4560 or by emailing plandev@mchenrycountyil.gov.

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