Sunapee Warns Residents of Fraudulent Planning and Zoning Payment Emails

Sunapee officials are warning residents after a fraudulent email circulated that impersonated the town Planning and Zoning Department and demanded payment for a land use application. The message used the name Allyson Traeger and included an invoice; town officials say the communication did not come from municipal offices and no town invoice exists.

The town’s official news release lists a news release date of 12-03-2025 and explains the email “appears to be related to a land use application and includes false claims about a pending Planning or Zoning Board request.” The release states the message is signed by “Allyson Traeger, Director, Sunapee Planning Board” and warns residents not to engage. The town later posted a broader consumer-protection notice dated 01-29-2026 reminding residents about unsolicited calls, phishing emails, and fraudulent contractors; some local accounts cited December 29 as a public-notice date for the initial alert.

Sunapee’s release spells out immediate steps for anyone who receives the message. “PLEASE BE ADVISED: Do not respond to the email. Do not open any attachments. Do not click any links.” Residents are asked to report the message to the Sunapee Police Department at (603) 763-5555 and to forward the email to the Town Manager’s Office at manager [at] town.sunapee.nh.us (manager[at]sunapeenh[dot]gov). For questions, the release lists the Land Use Office at (603) 763-2212 ext 1023.

Officials also reiterated the town’s payment policy to reduce confusion. “The Town of Sunapee will never ask you to pay land use or permit-related invoices via unsolicited email or through links in an email. Payments are only requested through official Town channels (e.g., at Town offices, by mail on Town letterhead, or via an official Town payment portal).” The release adds plainly, “This message did not originate from the Town of Sunapee” and that “There is no invoice from the Town associated with this message.” The statement further notes that “The name 'Allyson Traeger' is being misused.”

For homeowners, contractors, and applicants who regularly interact with the Land Use Office, the scam carries both financial and procedural risk. A fake invoice tied to a land-use filing can pressure property owners into rapid payment decisions and erode trust in official town correspondence. The town’s advisory aims to preserve the integrity of permitting workflows and reduce fraud exposure among residents who may not expect scammers to target routine local-government interactions.

Sunapee officials say they are notifying residents and pursuing appropriate reporting channels. “The Town of Sunapee takes fraudulent activity seriously and is working to notify residents and pursue appropriate reporting channels.” Residents who receive suspicious messages should follow the town’s instructions, report them to the Sunapee Police Department, and contact the Land Use Office for verification before taking any action.