Cape Coral Email Scam Alert: Planning Dept. Impersonated

The City of Cape Coral has alerted residents and contractors to a fraudulent email scam impersonating the city's Planning and Zoning Commission. The deceptive emails, which began circulating on or around Sept. 4, 2026, falsely claim that applications have been approved. Scammers use subject lines such as "application approval" and send messages from non-government email addresses, often with free domains like "@usa.com." This tactic mirrors similar scams reported in other municipalities nationwide.

City officials urge extreme caution with emails that appear to come from a city department, especially those referencing approvals or requiring immediate action. Residents should not click on links or download attachments in suspicious emails. Legitimate city departments do not use domains like "@usa.com" for official correspondence.

To verify information, individuals with questions about rezoning or other city matters should contact the relevant department directly. The City's Zoning Team can be reached for specific inquiries about rezoning applications.