APRIL 10TH, 2026 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE The City of Polson is alerting residents, contractors, and applicants to an emerging phishing scam in which criminals are impersonating city and county officials to solicit fraudulent payments related to planning and zoning permits. This is an active scam, and attempts have been reported in Lake County. Individuals and businesses with active land use or building permit applications may be targeted by scammers posing as City or County staff. These fraudulent communications often appear legitimate and may include permit or application numbers, property addresses, and project details. Victims are then instructed to pay fees associated with their permits and are directed to submit payment via wire transfer, peer-to-peer payment platforms, or cryptocurrency. The City of Polson would like to emphasize that it does not request payment via wire transfer, peer-to-peer payment applications, or cryptocurrency for any permits or fees. All legitimate payments are processed through official City channels only. Residents and applicants are encouraged not to respond to suspicious emails or payment requests and should not send funds through unverified methods. If you receive a questionable request, please verify it by contacting the City directly using known contact information. Suspicious activity should also be reported to local law enforcement. Scammers often use publicly available information to make their communications appear credible. The City encourages the public to remain vigilant and verify all payment requests before taking action. For questions regarding permits or payments, please contact the City of Polson Planning and Building Department directly at 406-883-8214 or dbrunson [at] cityofpolson.com (dbrunson[at]cityofpolson[dot]com).