City warns of permit fee scams

posted on 9/12/2025

The City of Dover is warning the public, especially Planning Board applicants, about a scam that urges payment for permit fees through wire transfers. The City of Dover will never ask for payment via wire transfer.

The scam, which has been reported in Dover and nearby regions, involves an applicant receiving an official-looking email purporting to be from a planning department that includes details about the project, such as the address, tax map information, and application number.

In the scam reported in Dover, a Planning Board applicant was emailed a fraudulent invoice for their project that had the signature of Planning Department Director Donna Benton. Upon closer look, the invoice was received from an email address ending in @mail.com. Other municipalities reported fraudulent emails coming from @usa.com.

Emails regarding permits and requests for payments in Dover will always come from a @dover.nh.gov email address.

The public is encouraged to contact the Dover Planning Department at 603-516-6008 if they receive an email about a permit fee and are unsure of its legitimacy.