Greensboro Planning Department Warned of Phishing Scheme

Officials have issued a warning regarding fraudulent emails targeting property rezoning applicants.

Updated on Sept. 23, 2026 in Financial Crime

Bold flat-color editorial illustration showing a stylized municipal building facade with a geometric red path, representing digital security threats. — The Greensboro Planning Department alerted rezoning applicants to a phishing scheme involving scammers impersonating officials to solicit fraudulent invoice payments via email. AI Illustration. Upload story photo >

Live Poll

Do you trust your ability to distinguish legitimate local government emails from phishing attempts?

The Greensboro Planning Department has alerted residents and businesses to a phishing scheme where scammers impersonate the department's interim director. These individuals are sending emails that falsely demand payment to settle outstanding invoices.

Why it matters

The scheme targets those navigating the property rezoning process, attempting to trick applicants into paying fraudulent fees. Officials are emphasizing that legitimate zoning costs are exclusively handled at the time of application submission.

Official department emails must end in @greensboro-nc.gov. Residents with concerns can verify details by contacting Mike Kirkman at 336-373-4649 or Carla Harrison at 336-373-3689.

The players

Greensboro Planning Department

This local government agency manages land use, zoning applications, and urban development initiatives for the city.

Mike Kirkman

He is an official contact person at the Greensboro Planning Department who can be reached for verification purposes.

Carla Harrison

She serves as a point of contact for the department and is available to help residents identify fraudulent communications.

The details

Scammers posing as the interim director are reaching out to applicants to solicit illegal payments. The department clarified that they do not solicit invoice payments via email, as all official fees are collected during the application process.

September 23, 2026: The Greensboro Planning Department reported the active phishing scheme.

Legal Context

This case follows a pattern set by the FBI Internet Crime Complaint Center's Business Email Compromise reports, where bad actors impersonate authority figures to solicit fraudulent funds. Local authorities across the country have reported similar spikes in impersonation schemes targeting municipal applicants.

Residents and business owners should strictly ignore any email requests for zoning invoice payments. Verify all communication by calling the department directly if an email appears suspicious or demands immediate financial action.

The takeaway

Always verify the sender's email address domain to ensure it matches official municipal records. Never provide payment or sensitive financial information in response to unsolicited email requests.