Visalia warns contractors about fake permit invoices tied to Site Plan Review
Visalia is warning builders, developers and property owners about fake invoices and phishing emails aimed at active Site Plan Review and permit cases.
Visalia is warning contractors, developers, property owners and business owners about a phishing scam that uses public project records to make fake permit invoices and emails look official.
In a May 20, 2026 alert, the city said the fraudulent messages are aimed at people with active Site Plan Reviews or building permits. City officials said no city systems were breached. Instead, scammers appear to be pulling details from public records and using them to make the messages seem legitimate.
The warning matters most for people working through Visalia’s development and permitting process. A message that includes correct-looking project details can still be fake, especially if it asks for money outside normal city channels.
What Visalia says to watch for
The city says Site Plan Review is free. It also says legitimate payment requests will not come by wire transfer, cryptocurrency or digital payment apps.
That makes any invoice or payment request using those methods a red flag for anyone handling a Visalia project, permit or site plan file.
For contractors and owners, the practical takeaway is simple: verify before paying. The city says scammers are relying on public information, not a city breach, so a message that looks specific still may not be real.
Anyone with an active Site Plan Review or building permit in Visalia should treat unexpected billing requests carefully and confirm suspicious messages before sending money.
