Farella has been made aware of potential fraud with Napa County permit applications. While the scam previously targeted only projects going before the Planning Commission, there has been a significant increase in activity this month, and it now appears that all recent applicants may be affected. The new scam directed at multiple wine industry clients involves fraudulent requests for funds for pending permit modifications.

Please be advised that Napa County does not currently receive ACH transfers for permits, and any request for an ACH transfer should be viewed with suspicion. If you receive a request to deposit funds for a pending permit modification with the County, you are encouraged to verify with your planner before sending any money. Call the Planning Department at 707-253-4417 and ask to speak to the planner assigned to your project; then verify the request before making any payments. If you do not know the name of your planner, ask the planner on duty, and they will identify your planner for you.

The County is aware of the fraudulent activity, but to date, the perpetrators have not been located. If you have received a fraudulent request, please report it to the County Administrator’s Office, your project planner, and let your contact at Farella know.