HUNTSVILLE, Ala. — North Alabama business owners are being warned about a new scam. This one involves fake letters or emails claiming the business has violated and EPA regulation and now owes thousands of dollars in fines.
The Limestone County Sheriff's Office shared a warning from the EPA about the scam. The fraudster sends a letter or email to the targeted business, claiming they violated a regulation such as the Clean Air Act, the Clean Act, or something similarly generic. They say the business owes thousands of dollars in fines and needs to respond by phone or email.
In its warning, the EPA says:
- The contact information provided—invoice@epa.services—is NOT associated with the EPA. Official U.S. government organizations use the “.gov” domain name; for example, “epa.gov.”
- If you receive a Notice of Violation letter and are unsure of its validity, we encourage you to thoroughly review the letter, including the email address, and contact the EPA's enforcement office directly to verify authenticity.
If you believe you've been a victim, the EPA asks you to report it to the EPA OIG Hotline by completing the online complaint form, emailing OIG.Hotline@epa.gov, or calling (888) 546-8740.