Baltimore Planning Department Alerts Residents to Impersonation Scams, Fake Notices

Baltimore City’s Department of Planning alerted property owners, applicants, and residents to a wave of impersonation scams that targeted neighborhood zoning and development processes. The department said fraudsters posed as Planning Commission officials, used fake credentials, sent notices falsely claiming public meetings or hearings were canceled, issued bogus invoices, and in some cases removed legally required posting signs from properties.

The goal of the reported scams appears to be discouraging attendance at public hearings and obstructing the transparency of land-use decisions. Removing or falsifying notice postings undermines the public’s ability to learn about zoning variances, rezonings, and other legislative actions that directly affect blocks and neighborhoods across the city. The department emphasized that staff will not conduct entire application processes over email, underscoring that legitimate procedures require in-person or verified interactions.

City officials reminded applicants that there should be no fees in the legislative action process other than the standard drafting fee from the Department of Legislative Reference. Residents who receive unusual invoices, cancellation notices, or credentialed communications should treat them as potentially fraudulent and verify through official channels. The Department of Planning instructed residents to call the planning office at 410-396-7526 or to email communications specialist Jasmine Johnson to confirm notices or ask about application status.

Baltimore Police and federal authorities were urged to investigate suspicious activity. The department asked residents to report concerns to Baltimore Police using the non-emergency number 410-637-8875 and to file complaints with the FBI’s Internet Crime Complaint Center (IC3). The department’s advisory followed reports of signs being physically removed from properties, an action that can prevent neighbors from learning about meetings where their input is required.

The scams carry policy and civic implications. When applicants are discouraged from attending hearings or when neighbors are not notified, the result is reduced public participation in decisions that shape development, housing density, and neighborhood character. That erosion of participation can tilt outcomes toward developers or interests that benefit from minimal scrutiny, and it complicates the city’s responsibility to hold transparent, legal processes for land-use decisions.

For Baltimore residents engaged in community associations or tracking a pending permit or zoning case, the immediate steps are simple: verify any unexpected communication with the Planning Department by phone or through Jasmine Johnson, do not pay any fees outside the stated drafting fee, and report suspicious behavior to Baltimore Police or the IC3. The department’s warning serves as a reminder that safeguarding the paper trail and the public notice process is essential to preserving neighborhood voices in Baltimore’s planning decisions.