The City of Muscatine is alerting local businesses and residents to stay alert following reports of a phishing scam impersonating the City of Muscatine Planning and Zoning Commission.
In a news release today, Feb. 2, the city said several businesses have recently received fraudulent emails requesting payment of an “invoice” in order to move an application forward.
Muscatine officials stress that these messages are not legitimate and did not originate from the City of Muscatine. The Planning & Zoning Commission does not email individuals or businesses regarding applications, nor does it request payment through email or text message.
The Monday alert added that any legitimate communication from the Planning & Zoning Commission will come through established, official channels.
The scam appears to be part of a broader trend in which criminals use email or text messaging to trick recipients into revealing personal, business, or financial information, the alert warned. This type of cybercrime – known as phishing – often relies on impersonating trusted institutions to create a sense of urgency or fear.
How the scam works
Victims have reported receiving messages that:
- Claim to be from the City of Muscatine Planning & Zoning Commission.
- Request payment of an invoice to “move an application forward.”
- Include official‑sounding language or formatting to appear credible.
These messages are designed to pressure recipients into clicking links, opening attachments, or sending money before they have time to verify the request.
If you receive a suspicious message
The City of Muscatine warns anyone receive the phishing email to take these actions:
- Do not click any links or open attachments.
- Do not send payment or personal information.
- Verify directly with the city by calling the appropriate department using a telephone number from the official City of Muscatine website.
- Report the message to your IT department (if applicable) and to local law enforcement if you believe you were targeted.
