Marion warns of fake Planning Board payment emails

The Town of Marion alerted community members Oct. 21 to fraudulent emails from scammers impersonating the Marion Planning Board and soliciting payments from applicants.

The emails may use Town letterhead, employee names, email signatures and official-looking documents to appear legitimate, according to the town. Recipients may be instructed to submit payments through wire transfers or other suspicious payment methods to process applications or pay associated fees.

The town said these emails are fraudulent and that it will never ask residents to wire money. It urged recipients not to provide personal or financial information or send money in response to suspicious payment requests.

Community members who receive an unexpected email or invoice claiming to be from the Marion Planning Board were advised to verify the request by contacting the appropriate Town department using a known, official telephone number or visiting the Town House. The town also recommended checking the sender's email address, being cautious of unexpected payment requests, and avoiding suspicious links or attachments.

The town asked residents to remain vigilant and use caution when responding to unexpected emails or requests for payment. Anyone who believes they have been the victim of a scam was asked to contact the Marion Police Department at 508-748-1212 to report the incident.

Source: Town of Marion announcement, October 21, 2026.

Checked against the record: before publication this article was automatically compared with the original announcement.