04/25/2026
SECURITY ALERT: Criminals impersonating City and officials in phishing emails from Department of Community Services
The City of Carmel has identified a sophisticated email scam impersonating our Department of Community Services. Scammers are sending highly realistic emails—often referencing actual property addresses and case numbers—to demand immediate payment for "permit fees" or "zoning violations."
These emails often include:
Accurate project details: They may reference your specific property address, actual case numbers or recently filed permit applications (information obtained from public records).
Official branding: The messages often use the City of Carmel logo, professional-sounding legal language, and the names of real City employees.
Urgent demands: The email claims that your project “cannot be finalized until…” and that there are fees that must be paid immediately via wire transfer to avoid project delays.
The City of Carmel will never ask for payment via wire transfer, cryptocurrency or mobile payment apps. All legitimate fees are handled through our official online permit portal.
If you are unsure about the legitimacy of an invoice, contact the Department of Community Services directly at (317) 571-2417 or email Bric Butler at [email protected]. You may also file a report at www.ic3.gov.
Your security is our priority. Thank you for helping us keep our community safe from fraudulent activity.
