Public Warning: Scam Alert Targeting Franklin County Homeowners
County Administrator Brian Dansel
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Date: February 3, 2026
Contact: Franklin County Planning and Economic Development
Phone: (509) 545-3521
Email: planninginquiry@franklincountywa.gov
Website: www.franklincountywa.gov
Public Warning: Scam Alert Targeting Franklin County Homeowners
Franklin County, WA — The Franklin County Planning and Economic Development Department is alerting the public to an ongoing scam targeting local property owners by falsely requesting wire payments for permit approvals. This scam is using the name of the County’s Planning & Building Director, Wes McCart, and mimics official communications to mislead recipients.
Please be aware: Franklin County does not request or accept wire transfers for permit payments.
A fraudulent email, appearing to come from a Franklin County department, is requesting homeowners to wire money to finalize permits. The email includes specific property information, mimics permit details, and urges recipients to send payment and proof via email. It also falsely claims to offer final approval for a Conditional Use Permit.
Key Red Flags of the Scam:
- Email errors and typos: The message contains numerous grammatical and spelling mistakes that are not typical of official County correspondence.
- Suspicious email address: The email is sent from “franklincountyplanningcommissin@usa.com” — a clear misspelling and not a legitimate Franklin County domain.
- Inaccurate fees: The requested fees are inconsistent with Franklin County’s official fee schedule.
- Wire transfer requests: Franklin County never requests payment via wire transfer for Planning and Building. All Planning & Building fees are paid through secure and approved methods as outlined on our official website.
What You Should Do:
- Do not respond to the email or send any money.
- Report the scam to the Franklin County Planning and Economic Development Department at (509) 545-3521.
- Verify all permit fees and application processes through our official website: www.franklincountywa.gov.
- Check the sender’s email address carefully before responding to any permit-related communication.
Franklin County takes the misuse of its department names and staff identities very seriously. We are working to identify and report the source of this fraudulent activity. If you believe you have been targeted or have questions about a Planning or Building permit, please contact our office directly.
Stay informed. Stay protected.
For official communications and fee schedules, always refer to www.franklincountywa.gov.
Brian Dansel
County Administrator of Franklin County
(509)545.3578