The City of Norwalk, CT, Police Department, along with the Department of Planning & Zoning, advise residents and applicants to be vigilant and wary of recent emails seeking payment of fees. Fraudulent emails requesting payment for applications approved by the Planning & Zoning Commission (“Commission”) seek wire transfers which, in some cases, are thousands of dollars.
At the Commission’s January 7, 2026, meeting, Steven Kleppin, Director of Planning & Zoning, noted that such fraudulent emails continue to be sent to property owners and applicants. “Should you get an approval from the Commission, and if you receive an email from someone requesting money after the fact, do not pay that – it is not the city,” Kleppin said. “There is a pretty elaborate scam going on that is hitting towns. You will not get a bill from the city post approval.” Application fees are paid at the time of submission and the Norwalk Planning & Zoning Department does not request that funds be wired. Rather, all application and other fees required by the city’s Department of Planning & Zoning must be paid by credit card or in person at the department’s office in City Hall.
The Norwalk Police Department has also issued a fraud advisory on its website: “The Norwalk Police Department has been made aware that residents are receiving fraudulent emails from the address [email protected] requesting wire transfers for various alleged fees. Residents should be aware that the phone number and email address listed on the invoice do not correspond with any official contact information for the City of Norwalk. Additionally, the bank information provided in the message lists a financial institution located in Kansas City, Missouri, which is not associated with the City of Norwalk.”
The Norwalk Police Department is actively investigating these incidents and reminds residents to remain vigilant for potential scams and fraudulent activity. Residents are strongly urged not to send money or provide personal or financial information in response to unsolicited emails. The department advises residents and applicants to call the Department of Planning & Zoning should a fraudulent request for fees be received, and to contact the Police Department at 203-854-3000 regarding suspicious messages or questions about the legitimacy of any invoice or communication from city departments.
Similar fraudulent requests for fees claiming to be from the Town of Wilton Department of Planning & Zoning have also been received by applicants and property owners, and that department has offered similar advice.
For more information, please contact Carmody’s Real Estate & Land Use lawyers:
Liz Suchy
Partner
203.252.2656
[email protected]
This information is for educational purposes only, to provide general information and a general understanding of the law. It does not constitute legal advice and does not establish any attorney-client relationship.