Scam Alert: Deschutes County warns residents to watch out for official-looking email phishing attempts

BEND, Ore. (KTVZ) -- Deschutes County reminded community members Thursday to watch out for email scams that try to steal personal or financial information. Some scams may appear to come from county email accounts and reference real permit numbers or application details.

These messages may request urgent payment, ask for bank account or Social Security numbers, or include suspicious links or attachments.

"Do not click links, open attachments, or share personal information in response to unexpected emails," the county advised in a news release that continues below.

To stay safe, verify the sender’s email address and be cautious of messages that create a sense of urgency. Official communications from Deschutes County will only come from email addresses ending in @deschutes.org.

For more tips about phishing scams, visit www.cisa.gov/recognize-and-report-phishing.

If you believe you were the victim of a scam, call Deschutes County 911 non-emergency dispatch at 541-693-6911 or visit www.deschutes.org/911 to report a crime online.