Franklin County officials are warning residents to beware of emails requesting wire payments to finalize permit applications. 

The fraudulent emails, which include specific property information, mimic permit details and falsely claim to offer final approval for a conditional use permit, are using the name of Wes McCart, the county planning and building director, according to a release. The county is working to identify the source of the fraudulent emails. 

“Please be aware: Franklin County does not request or accept wire transfers for permit payments,” the county said in a statement. 

If county residents receive an email purporting to be from the county’s planning and economic development department, signs of it being fraudulent include typos and spelling mistakes, a non-county email address of “[email protected]” and inaccurate fee costs. 

Residents should not respond to the email and immediately contact the county at 509- 545-3521.