The City of Fort Lauderdale has received reports from the public of fraudulent phone calls from an individual claiming to represent the city. These calls are not legitimate and are not coming from the City of Fort Lauderdale.
The scam may target those with a City of Fort Lauderdale existing permit for building, engineering, or code compliance balance. An individual identifying himself as Alex Davis states that the City’s payment system has changed, and he is requesting payment over the phone.
The scam uses software that makes the caller ID look like the call is from a legitimate source. The reported phone calls occurred Friday, Sept. 2, from the following numbers: (954) 828-6520 and +244 (954) 828-6520.
The City of Fort Lauderdale reminds the public to follow these tips with unknown or suspicious calls:
- Hang up immediately if someone claiming to represent the City of Fort Lauderdale demands payment over the phone.
- Don’t give the caller your name or any other identifying information.
- If the caller tells you they may have dialed a wrong
number and asks what your number is, don’t give it to them. Instead, ask what number he intended to dial.
- When you answer your telephone, if no one responds to your greeting, hang up immediately.
- When in doubt, ask the person for their name and a number where you can return the call. Citizens can also contact law enforcement when in doubt.
For more information or questions: City of Fort Lauderdale 24-Hour Customer Service Center at (954) 828-8000 or lauderserv@fortlauderdale.gov