The City of Santa Barbara is warning the community about scam invoice emails that impersonate City departments and request fraudulent payments. These fraudulent messages may appear official, using logos or language meant to look authentic, but they are not from the City.

Example of the Invoice Scam

Emails have been sent from planningco.cityofsantabarbaraca @usa.com or similar, falsely claiming to be from the City of Santa Barbara or Planning Commission. The messages reference a real property address and project type, pulled from public information, and included a fake invoice pdf attachment for various fees such as:

• Application Review & Processing

• Zoning & Compliance Assessment

• Legal & Administration

• Public Notification & Documentation

The emails instruct the recipient to reply for wire transfer instructions and to return a signed invoice and payment receipt via email. Emails also falsely claim that payment is required to proceed with the application and public hearing process.

What to Do

If you receive a similar email:

• Do not reply, click links, or send payment.

• Verify sender addresses carefully: Official City emails end in @SantaBarbaraCA.gov, not @usa.com.

Contact the City directly using verified phone numbers or websites listed below.

The City of Santa Barbara will never ask you to wire transfer money under any circumstances. For secure transactions and services, always use Accela Citizen Access (ACA), SantaBarbaraCA.gov/ACA.

While this scam is currently targeting City departments, similar tactics are used in many types of fraud.

Scammers often use tactics designed to pressure or confuse recipients. To protect yourself, keep the following red flags in mind:

How to Spot a Scam - General Scam Awareness Tips

• False sense of urgency: Scammers may claim your account is at risk or urgent action is required to push you into quick decisions.

• Requests for sensitive information: A legitimate business will never ask for your password, PIN, or one-time codes via phone or text.

• Unusual payment methods: Any demand for wire transfers, gift cards, or cryptocurrency is a strong sign of fraud.

• Suspicious language: Watch for spelling errors, awkward phrasing, or inconsistent formatting. These are common clues that the email is not legitimate.

• Unrecognized senders or links: Verify the sender's email address carefully and avoid clicking links if anything looks unusual.

If you receive a suspicious invoice or communication claiming to be from the City, do not respond, click links, or send payment. Instead, contact the City directly using verified phone numbers or websites. Always verify any payment requests by contacting the relevant City department directly.