LEONARDTOWN, MD – St. Mary’s County Government issued a public warning March 27, 2026, about fraudulent emails that target residents and developers involved in construction or land-use projects, demanding payment of fake “Application Review and Approval Fees” to the St. Mary’s County Planning Commission.
The Department of Land Use & Growth Management received multiple reports of the scam emails. The messages reference specific properties or active projects, claim that an application has been reviewed and is ready for approval, and instruct recipients to reply for wire transfer instructions so they can submit payment and move forward.
Scammers send the emails from addresses that do not end in @stmaryscountymd.gov, including one example that uses “Dept.St.Marys.County_Commission@usa.com.” Official county communications always come from addresses ending in @stmaryscountymd.gov. The county stressed that the emails have no connection to St. Mary’s County Government, the Department of Land Use & Growth Management or the Planning Commission.
This type of fraud fits a broader pattern identified by the FBI in a March 9, 2026, public service announcement. Cybercriminals impersonate city and county planning officials nationwide to solicit payments for zoning and land-use permits, often using publicly available application details to make the messages appear legitimate.
St. Mary’s County officials advise residents to disregard any unsolicited email requesting payment for application review or approval. Anyone with questions about legitimate fees or the status of a project should contact the Department of Land Use & Growth Management directly for verification rather than responding to the suspicious message.
If someone has already sent money in response to one of these emails, they should report it immediately to the St. Mary’s County Sheriff’s Office at (301) 475-8008. Prompt reporting helps authorities track the scam and assist victims.
The notice serves as a reminder that government agencies do not request payments via wire transfer, gift cards or cryptocurrency for routine application processing. Residents involved in planning or construction projects in Southern Maryland should remain vigilant, especially as public records of applications can be accessed by anyone and used by scammers to craft personalized phishing attempts.
St. Mary’s County continues to encourage direct communication through official channels for all permitting and land-use matters. Property owners and developers can reach the Department of Land Use & Growth Management by phone or through the county website to confirm any required fees or next steps on their applications.
This alert comes at a time when similar scams have surfaced in other jurisdictions, highlighting the need for caution when handling emails that create urgency around permit approvals. By verifying every request through known county contacts, residents can protect themselves from financial loss and help limit the spread of these fraudulent schemes in the region.
