Baldwin County, Ala. — (OBA) —  The Baldwin County Commission is alerting the public to a growing scam targeting property owners and professionals involved in Planning and Zoning cases. Officials report fraudulent emails linked to active Planning Commission cases. The messages are designed to look legitimate by including real case numbers, property details, and other publicly available information. The emails use that information to make fake payment requests appear credible.

The county has received several reports of fraudulent emails. The FBI's Internet Crime Complaint Center (IC3) issued a nationwide Public Service Announcement in March 2026 warning about this type of fraud targeting applicants in planning, zoning, and permitting across the country.

The Baldwin County Commission accepts permit payments only through its official CitizenServe Portal at www.BaldwinCountyAL.gov/CSP or in person at Baldwin County office locations. The county does not request wire transfers at any time. Anyone who receives an email directing them to submit a permit payment by any other method should not send money or provide financial information.

Officials are encouraging applicants to contact the Baldwin County Commission directly to verify any payment request that appears questionable. Suspected fraud should also be reported to the FBI's Internet Crime Complaint Center at IC3.gov. 

The county reminds the public that an email containing accurate case numbers or property information is not necessarily legitimate. Scammers often use real data to make their messages harder to spot. Residents and professionals are urged to stay alert and verify any payment request before acting.