Published on July 10, 2026
WEST SPRINGFIELD, MA – The Town of West Springfield is issuing an urgent warning to residents and contractors applying for building or planning permits regarding a sophisticated invoice scam currently targeting municipal applicants across the region.
Over the past year, several neighboring municipalities have reported incidents where permit applicants received fraudulent, highly realistic invoices demanding excessive fee payments. The Town has confirmed that scammers are now attempting to target applicants here in West Springfield.
Fortunately, a recent West Springfield permit applicant noticed a suspicious billing request and contacted town officials before taking any action. This proactive step allowed the Building and Planning Department to identify and confirm the fraudulent request, preventing any financial loss.
"We want to ensure everyone in our community is vigilant," said Town Planner, Stephanie Nunez. "The scammers are using public or intercepted applicant information to make these fake invoices look legitimate. We urge the public and our staff to double-check any unexpected billing requests."
If you currently have an open permit application or are planning to submit one with the Town of West Springfield, please keep the following safety measures in mind:
Verify Before You Pay: Always cross-reference any invoice you receive with the official fee schedule provided at the time of your application. We do not take wire transferes.
Check the Source: Official communications regarding fees will only come from authorized Town of West Springfield department channels. Be wary of unusual email addresses or lookalike domains.
Report Suspicious Requests: If you receive an invoice that seems excessively high or suspicious in any way, do not pay it. Contact the Building and Planning Department directly to verify its legitimacy.
The Town of West Springfield is actively monitoring the situation. If you believe you have received a fraudulent invoice, please report it immediately to the Building and Planning Department so we can document the incident and alert proper authorities.