SCAM ALERT, PLEASE SHARE:
@HoCoGov Dept. of Planning & Zoning (DPZ) is warning
#HoCoMD residents of an ongoing email scam in which the scammer impersonates a member of DPZ's staff, sometimes using the name of the current DPZ Director Lynda Eisenberg, & demands payment for planning & zoning related forms. THIS IS A SCAM! DPZ will NEVER email demanding payment via wire transfer, peer-to-peer payment, or cryptocurrency. Additionally, the email address PlanningCom.HowardCountyMD.gov@usa.com is NOT a County email address.
If you receive this email, DPZ advises community members to NOT click on any links or provide any information and to NOT forward or reply to the email. Instead, mark it as junk/spam and delete it immediately and contact DPZ directly by calling 410-313-2350 or by clicking on the "Email Us" button on its website,
howardcountymd.gov/planning-… if you have questions. For additional info about planning & zoning related phishing emails, please check out the
@FBI's online alert,
ic3.gov/PSA/2026/PSA260309, it issued earlier this year.
If you believe you may have been a victim of an email scam in which you have provided payment &/or personal or financial info, call
@HCPDNews' non-emergency number at 410-313-2200 (select option #2) or visit its "File an Online Report" webpage,
howardcountymd.gov/police/fi…, to file a police report.
ALT A photo of a computer keyboard with one red key reading Scam Alert.