Rock Island residents warned about fraudulent invoices

The City of Rock Island is sending out a warning about fraudulent invoices.

According to a release from the City of Rock Island, residents and business should be aware of a new scam involving fraudulent invoices claiming to be from the City of Rock Island. The invoices target people named in public meetings agendas.

Scammers are emailing fraudulent bills and payment requests that claim to be from the City of Rock Island’s Planning Department from an email address of planning-rockisland-il.gov@usa.com. Official emails from the City end in @rigov.org, not @usa.com. A resident named in a recent June agenda requesting a handicapped parking space in front of her home received a fraudulent invoice demanding that she wire $1,250 to pay for the space.

The invoices are designed to look official with Rock Island’s city logo, fake invoice numbers and so-called approval fees. The emails demand that the person respond to the email and request wire transfer instruction.

“The City would never send an invoice charging a resident for a handicapped parking space,” finance director Jessica Sager said. “That is something we do for free as a course of business. The City also does not demand payment through suspicious wire transfer requests sent by email.”

The City of Rock Island urges anyone who receives a suspicious-looking invoice to call a reliable number for the City or to the specific department trying to collect money. Residents should not pay those invoices.

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