Manitou Springs Businesses Targeted by Sophisticated Email Scam Impersonating City Officials

Local business owners in Manitou Springs are being warned about a sophisticated email fraud scheme where scammers are posing as city planning officials to steal money from unsuspecting residents. The fraudulent communications, which have already targeted multiple community members, demonstrate an alarming familiarity with municipal processes.

Two Manitou Springs community members have reported receiving deceptive emails claiming to be from Planning Director Fred Rollenhagen, with the scammers attempting to collect fraudulent payments for business permits and operations.

How the Scam Works

The sophisticated nature of these attacks has raised concerns among local officials. The fraudulent emails include:

• Detailed references to legitimate city processes
• Requests for payments related to "Major Temporary Use Permits"
• Professional formatting that mimics official communications
• Instructions for maintaining business operations

"While these emails may appear legitimate and include references to city processes, they are not generated from any city employee," emphasized Manitou Springs officials in their public warning to residents.

City's Response to Protect Local Businesses

The Manitou Springs municipal government has launched a comprehensive response to protect local business owners and residents, including:

• Engaging IT and network services providers to enhance security
• Conducting a thorough review of potential legal implications
• Coordinating with law enforcement authorities
• Implementing additional verification processes for official communications

Protecting Your Colorado Business

For Colorado Springs area business owners and residents, this incident serves as a crucial reminder about the importance of verifying official communications. Local businesses are encouraged to:

• Directly contact city offices through known, verified phone numbers
• Be skeptical of unexpected payment requests
• Verify any permit-related communications through official channels
• Report suspicious emails to local authorities

This incident follows a pattern of increasing cyber fraud targeting Colorado communities, highlighting the need for enhanced vigilance among local business owners and residents. The city continues to monitor the situation and will provide updates as the investigation progresses.

This article contains AI-generated content and reflects opinion only. Readers are encouraged to verify all information independently before drawing conclusions or making decisions.