Missoula warns of fraudulent emails posing as city officials

MISSOULA, Mont. – The City of Missoula has issued an alert about an email falsely claiming to be from its Planning Department.

According to the Missoula Police Department (MPD), the email, designed to appear convincing with City branding and references to planning processes, seeks payment for an alleged application review fee. Recipients are instructed to request wire transfer instructions.

A resident who received the email identified it as suspicious and reached out to the City for verification. The email originated from an address ending in @usa.com, which is not associated with the City of Missoula.

The City of Missoula advises residents and businesses that it does not request payments through unsolicited emails or wire transfers.

"If you receive a message requesting payment that appears to be from the City, it is important to verify the request using official contact information," the city stated.

Residents are encouraged to contact the City directly if they receive messages appearing suspicious and to avoid sending payments without verification.