City warns of scammers that purport to be government officials seeking payments

Residents and property owners have reported receiving fraudulent communications appearing to come from the City's Planning Department and Planning Board. (Courtesy photo)

ROCHESTER - The city of Rochester is alerting residents and property owners to reports of fraudulent communications falsely claiming to be from the City of Rochester.

These scams may appear as official-looking documents, invoices, or requests related to permits, applications, zoning matters, or project approvals. In some cases, individuals have reported receiving unexpected bills or requests for payment, as well as emails or messages seeking personal or financial information, according to a recent release from the city.

Specifically, residents and property owners have reported receiving fraudulent communications appearing to come from the City's Planning Department and Planning Board.

Residents are reminded that scammers may impersonate government officials or departments using convincing language, altered email addresses, or unofficial contact information.

The City of Rochester urges residents to take the following precautions:

• Be cautious of any unexpected communication requesting payment, personal information, or urgent actions.
• Do not assume a message is legitimate simply because it appears to come from a known department or official.
• Verify the source by contacting the City directly using known and trusted contact information.
• Never provide personal identifying information, financial information, or payment to unfamiliar or unverified sources.
• Be especially wary of requests involving unconventional payment methods, including gift cards.

The New Hampshire Secretary of State also advises residents to carefully review communications claiming to be from government entities and to independently verify their authenticity before responding.

If you receive a suspicious communication claiming to be from the City of Rochester, residents are encouraged to call (603) 335-7500 to confirm its legitimacy.

Residents who believe they may have been targeted or victimized by a scam are also encouraged to contact the Consumer Protection and Antitrust Bureau of the New Hampshire Attorney General's Office at (603) 271-3641 or DOJ-CPB@doj.nh.gov.