Napa County, CA — Napa County officials are warning residents to be vigilant after discovering phishing emails impersonating county departments and staff. The fraudulent emails, which request wire transfers or payments for permits and applications, appear to be legitimate at first glance, but are in fact part of a broader scam targeting unsuspecting individuals.

In a public notice, the county emphasized that these emails may seem convincing, but they are not from official sources. To protect themselves, officials have outlined several precautionary measures for residents to follow:

  1. Verify the Sender’s Email Address
    County officials urge residents to closely examine the sender’s email address. Authentic emails from Napa County will always come from the domain @countyofnapa.org. Phishing emails often come from suspicious or generic domains, such as @usa.com, which are not associated with the county.

  2. Contact the County Directly
    If a resident receives a questionable email, the county advises contacting the relevant department directly. This can be done through official phone numbers or email addresses listed on the Napa County website: www.countyofnapa.org.

  3. Avoid Sending Payments or Personal Information
    Residents are urged never to send payment or share personal information through email unless they are absolutely certain the request is legitimate. Legitimate county transactions typically do not involve such sensitive exchanges through email.

  4. Be Wary of Urgent Requests
    Phishing scams often use high-pressure tactics, such as threatening language or urgent demands, to create a sense of immediate action. Napa County warns residents to be particularly cautious of such tactics and to take the time to verify any unexpected or rushed requests.

  5. Watch for Suspicious Links and Poor Grammar
    One of the telltale signs of phishing is the presence of suspicious links. To avoid falling victim, residents should always hover over links to see the real web address before clicking on them. Additionally, phishing emails frequently contain grammatical errors and awkward phrasing, another red flag that should not be ignored.

  6. Report Suspicious Emails
    Napa County encourages residents to report any phishing attempts to the FBI’s Internet Crime Complaint Center (IC3) at www.ic3.gov. Reporting these incidents helps authorities track down and prevent further scams.

The county also stresses the importance of spreading the word to protect others from falling victim to these scams. As cybercrime becomes increasingly sophisticated, residents are advised to stay vigilant and cautious when dealing with unsolicited emails or unexpected requests.

By staying informed and following these guidelines, Napa County residents can better protect themselves from these dangerous phishing schemes.