The City of Hampton has issued a warning about a scam involving individuals impersonating city staff through fake email addresses and documents. The scammers are targeting those involved in the planning and rezoning process, attempting to collect unauthorized payments via falsified invoices.
City officials have clarified that all legitimate City of Hampton email addresses end with @hampton.gov. They emphasized that the city will not request payments through wire transfer or email without proper verification. Furthermore, they stated, “the city will never ask for alternate forms of payment like gift cards or cryptocurrency.”
Residents are advised to verify any suspicious emails claiming to be from a city department by checking the sender’s email address carefully. If there is any doubt, they should contact the department directly using information from the official City of Hampton website.
The city encourages vigilance among residents and business partners and urges them to report any suspicious activity to the Hampton Police Division’s non-emergency line at 757-727-6111. For more information or to report a phishing attempt, residents can call the same number.
Together, these efforts aim to prevent fraud and protect the community.
