Allen County citizens receive scam emails

The Allen County Board of Commissioners, on behalf of the Department of Planning Services, alerts citizens of a current email scam.

News release from the Allen County Board of Commissioners:

Allen County Citizens Receive Scam Emails

Allen County, Indiana (September 3, 2025) – The Allen County Board of Commissioners, on behalf of the Department of Planning Services, alerts citizens of a current email scam.

An email from “planning-commission.allencounty@usa.com” is circulating to residents claiming that the recipient has had their project approved by the “Allen County Planning Commission” staff. The email goes on to request that the recipient email them back for wire transfer instructions to send a payment. This email is not from a legitimate Allen County email address. The Commissioners urge constituents to delete the email and not to respond.

Executive Director of the Department of Planning Services Ben Roussel shared, “We are glad that people reached out to us to bring this issue to our attention and to ask if the email is legitimate. If something seems off, it probably is. The email claims that all correspondence must be conducted via email. This is not how we conduct business. Allen County residents may email, call, or stop in the office if they have concerns about a pending project or a suspicious email.”

The Department of Planning Services can be reached by calling 260-449-7607 or emailing at acfwdpspermitspecialists@allencounty.us. Their office is located on the first floor of the Citizens Square Building, 200 East Berry Street, Ste. 150, Fort Wayne, IN 46802.

Text of the scam email:

From: “Planning Commission Allen County”

To:

Cc:

Sent: Wed, Sep 3, 2025 at 7:43 AM

Subject: Application Review and Approval Fee – Settlement Required for Processing

PLANNING COMMISSION
Allen County
200 East Berry St. Fort Wayne, IN 46802

Dear Applicant,

This correspondence is issued on behalf of the Allen County Planning Commission regarding your pending application for the proposed 960-square-foot shipping container home project. The application has undergone preliminary review by staff, and after careful evaluation, staff have recommended approval of the project.

Your proposal demonstrates a forward-looking housing solution that emphasizes affordability, safety, sustainability, and modern living standards. The home’s design—comprising three bedrooms and two bathrooms—offers an efficient and functional layout that maximizes both space and natural light. The permanent anchoring of the structure to a continuous poured concrete foundation with an elevated crawl space reflects appropriate construction practices for durability and moisture control. Additionally, the use of high-quality insulation, energy-efficient systems, and repurposed materials illustrates a commitment to environmental responsibility without compromising comfort or safety.

While the project is positioned favorably for approval, the next procedural step requires the settlement of the attached invoice. This invoice represents the application review and approval fee associated with your case. The timely payment of this fee is essential to continue processing your application and to bring it before theCommission for final approval.

To clarify the necessity of this fee, please note the following points:

• Application Management: Funds support the administrative processes required to intake, track, and coordinate applications efficiently.
• Review and Analysis: Fees ensure staff have the resources to evaluate project documentation, zoning compliance, and consistency with planning regulations.
  “tsn_saltydog@yahoo.com”
• Approval Procedures: Payment offsets the costs associated with drafting staff reports, preparing findings, and scheduling Commission review.
• Site Visits: Fees cover the cost of field inspections to verify site conditions, confirm compliance, and ensure project feasibility.
• Public Hearings: Funds contribute to organizing public hearings, issuing public notices, and preparing agendas for official consideration.
• Technological Maintenance: Fees sustain the digital platforms used for application management, document archiving, and correspondence tracking.
• Infrastructural Compensation: Payment supports the County’s ability to maintain infrastructure and services impacted by development activities.

To streamline the approval process, the invoice must be settled in a timely manner.

Next Steps:

1. Reply directly to this email to formally request the wire transfer instructions for payment of the invoice.
2. Complete the wire transfer using the instructions provided.
3. Return a copy of the wire transfer receipt to this email for confirmation.

Please be advised that all correspondence associated with this case must be conducted via email to ensure accurate recordkeeping, auditing, and inclusion on official agendas.

Your prompt attention to this matter will ensure there is no delay in advancing your application to final approval. Should you have any questions regarding the invoice or the process, kindly direct all inquiries through this email channel.

Sincerely,
PLANNING COMMISSION
Allen County
200 East Berry St.
Fort Wayne, IN 46802

Download a copy of the scam email.

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