Franklin city leaders warn of 'clever' planning and zoning scam

FRANKLIN — David Chunn, this city's planning and zoning director, is warning residents of a new scam targeting recent applicants to the Franklin Planning Board and Zoning Board of Adjustment.

Chunn says is the first of its kind he has ever seen.

“It cleverly impersonates correspondence from our office, including me,” Chunn said. “It’s got my actual contact information and name on it, and it looks like a copy and paste from an actual memo.”

The scam was discovered when an applicant came into Chunn’s office on Thursday with a printed letter, wondering about the $4,000 invoice included with the letter which laid out specifics, seemingly from Chunn.

It came through an email sent to the applicant, a property owner, and featured what looked like an official invoice and letter. The invoice requested the applicant pay an “Application Approval and Review Fee.” The breakdown includes $2,000 for a zoning and planning application review, $1,500 for permit processing and filing fees, and $500 for administrative and compliance charges.

The invoice states bank transfer is an acceptable payment method, and to “please ask for wire instructions.” It adds late payments may be subject to additional administrative charges. At the bottom is what appears to be a notarized stamp with the city’s logo.

Chunn called it a “clever impersonation,” noting the letter even had the city’s logo. It gives accurate contact details, and uses language similar to that of public planning and zoning documents.

“I’ve never been impersonated, so that’s a first,” Chunn said. “They even got the spelling right on my name, and nobody does that.”

Chunn said there are minor details that should be red flags, such as the email being slightly off. The email has a @usa.com domain, which is not the accurate email for the planning department.

However, it is so professional looking, he could see some people being fooled. The information in the letter referred to a variance to a setback of a 24- by 44-foot home. It explains the fee is “essential to ensure the proper, efficient, and legally compliant handling of your application.” The letter then gives a bulleted list of the functions the fee pays for, and instructions on how to pay, and is ultimately signed by Chunn.

“Someone could see it and have a little panic attack, and might pay that money,” Chunn said. “It’s concerning.”

Chunn said he immediately emailed all recent applicants, as well as the city council, mayor, and any city leader he could think of, to get the word out about the scam. He also passed it along to the Lakes Region Planning Commission, who confirmed it was also the first time members had seen a scam like that. He said they will be sending an email out and making social media posts to worn others. Director Shanna Saunders was unavailable for comment on Friday.

Chunn doesn’t know of anyone who has paid the requested invoice, or heard of anyone else getting the email, but he assumes there are more out there.

“The thing is that all the information used by the scam artist is available to the public,” Chunn said. “I also imagine Franklin will not be unique to this, and worry it has been repeated other places.”

Chunn said he has been in contact with the Franklin Police Department, whose officers said they are investigating the scam. A request for comment from Franklin Police was not immediately returned.

Anyone who has received this scam letter and invoice is asked to call the Franklin Planning and Zoning Office at 60-934-2341, or email dchunn@franklinnh.gov.