The Village of Wesley Hills is warning residents about a new scam involving fraudulent emails that falsely appear to come from the Village. These emails ask residents to make payments for Planning Board, Zoning Board of Appeals, and Building Permit applications via wire transfer.
According to officials, the emails are crafted to look authentic, featuring Village logos copied from the official website and detailed invoices with payment instructions. Mayor Marshall Katz emphasized that the Village never requests or accepts payments via wire transfer, ACH, credit/debit card over the phone, or through email.
Legitimate payment requests will only originate from:
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A Village employee’s email ending in “wesleyhills.gov”, or
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The Village’s secure Citizen Portal, where automated emails end in “civicplus.com.”
Residents should be alert:
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Official invoices will always include a PDF and a payment link directing to the Citizen Portal at civicgov4.com/ny_wesleyhills/portal/index.php.
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If a link redirects elsewhere, it is not legitimate.
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Payment requests will never come from Planning or Zoning Board chairpersons.
The Village only accepts payments in the following ways:
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Citizen Portal (credit card, debit card, e-checks).
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In person at Village Hall using the card terminal.
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By check—either in person at Village Hall or through the mail.
Residents who receive suspicious emails are urged to call Village Hall at 845-354-0400 to verify any payment requests.
Mayor Katz urged vigilance, noting that while the scam emails appear sophisticated, residents should always confirm through official Village channels before making payments.