City of Columbia advises customers to be aware of fraudulent Planning & Development payment scams

The City of Columbia is advising residents, design professionals, architects, developers, contractors and others conducting business with the Planning & Development Services Department to remain vigilant against fraudulent payment scams involving Planning & Development applications, invoices and payment requests.

These types of scams have become a reoccurring issue nationwide, which targets individuals and businesses involved in planning, permitting and development activities. Fraudulent invoices and requests may appear legitimate and typically attempt to redirect payments through unauthorized methods or websites.

To help protect yourself and your business, please remember the following:

• Use only the City’s official payment portal for Planning & Development applications, permits and related fees by visiting: https://planninganddevelopment.columbiasc.gov/payments/.
• Verify the sender’s email address. Official invoices and payment requests from the City of Columbia Planning & Development Services Department will only originate from an email address ending in @columbiasc.gov (for example, [email protected]).
• The City of Columbia does not request payment by wire transfer. Any request to submit payment via wire transfer should be considered fraudulent.

If you receive a suspicious invoice, payment request or email claiming to be from the City of Columbia, do not submit payment until you have verified its authenticity.

If you have questions or believe you may have received a fraudulent invoice or payment request, please contact the City of Columbia Planning & Development Services Department at (803) 545-3420 before making any payment.

The City of Columbia remains committed to protecting residents, businesses and development partners by providing secure payment options and encouraging the public to remain alert to evolving scams.