Fraud Prevention Center

Fraud Related to Local Government

Scammers will often impersonate government agencies or officials to try and get money from residents and business owners. There are many examples, from fake invoices to bogus fines. 

For example, people may call you impersonating a police officer demanding money. A city in Texas reported that, “These scammers attempt to deceive individuals into parting with their money by using names such as Lt. Brian Ward and falsely claiming affiliation with the sheriff's office.” Fraud like this can happen. We want to help prevent it.

Common Examples

• IRS or Tax Scams: A caller or email claims you owe taxes and must pay immediately or be arrested.
• Jury Duty Scams: You’re told you missed jury duty and must pay a fine or face jail time.
• Grant or Benefit Scams: You’re told you’ve won a government grant but must pay a "processing fee" or provide banking info.
• Email Phishing with Fake Attachments: You may get an email that looks like it’s from a government agency, with an attached “invoice” that actually contains malware or phishing links.
• Fake Government Invoices: Scammers send official-looking invoices for things like:
  • Business licenses or permits
  • OSHA or labor law posters
  • Environmental or safety inspections

Do you see something suspicious on an invoice? Check below for common signs of a scam.

Joint Message from Our Chief Information Security Officer and Office of Financial Services Director

Invoice fraud is a serious and ongoing threat that can impact any organization — including the City of Saint Paul. We’re committed to helping residents stay informed and alert to prevent fraud from affecting our community.

As a resident, it’s important to stay aware of how fraud tactics evolve. Scammers are constantly adapting their methods, becoming more sophisticated in their attempts to deceive you. While this guide provides valuable information, it doesn’t cover every possible scam — and that’s why staying vigilant is essential.

If you ever receive an invoice claiming to be from the City and you’re unsure of its legitimacy, don’t hesitate to contact us directly to verify it. It’s always better to double-check than to fall victim to fraud.

We put together this guide for you to learn about common scam tactics and how to recognize the warning signs.

Stefanie Horvath, Chief Information Security Officer

Laura Logsdon, Office of Financial Services Interim Director

Real Example of Invoice Fraud

Below is a real example of invoice fraud where the City of Saint Paul was able to step in and stop a resident’s money from being stolen.

What to Look Out For
Faded or washed-out logo: If the Saint Paul logo looks light, blurry, or hard to see, it’s not real. Official City messages always use a clear and easy-to-see logo. (Note: Scammers have gotten more sophisticated. Just because it has a City of Saint Paul logo on it is not a tell-tale sign that it’s real.) Wrong font: If words like “INVOICE,” “FROM,” or “Saint Paul Planning Department” look odd or use different fonts, it could be fake. The City of Saint Paul has specific brand guidelines that we use for our materials. If something looks unusual, please consult our media kit.
Strange formatting: If the bullet points or text are oddly placed (like all centered), it might be a fake. Wire transfer request: If someone asks you to send a wire transfer, it’s a scam. The City of Saint Paul will never ask for payment this way.
Wire transfer request: See above. No official City phone number: If there’s no phone number, or you’re not sure if the number is real, go to the City’s official website to double-check it. If you're at all unsure, don't call the phone number.
Wire transfer request: See above. Asked to reply to an email for payment info: Scammers may ask you to reply to an email to get payment instructions. The City will never do this and will never send payment info this way. Pushy language: If the message says things like “respond promptly” or makes you feel rushed, that’s a red flag. The City won’t pressure you or use urgent words to get you to act quickly.
Faded or hard to read watermark: If the background watermark looks very light, blurry, or copied over many times, that’s a warning sign. The City uses computer software to make invoices, so the text and watermark should always be clear and easy to read. Wrong font: See above.