Fort Myers Beach to launch “FRAUD WATCH” newsletter in response to recent scams

Dec 17, 2025 5 min read

The Town of Fort Myers Beach is alerting residents and businesses to a recent increase in sophisticated scam attempts and is launching a new public-awareness initiative, FRAUD WATCH: Scammers Beware, to help protect the community through timely education and prevention.

The Town’s new FRAUD WATCH newsletter will officially launch on January 5 and will provide ongoing updates on both previously identified scam attempts and emerging schemes targeting residents and businesses. The newsletter will serve as a centralized source of information, offering reminders about past scams, alerts about new fraud trends as they arise, and clear guidance on how to verify legitimate Town communications. FRAUD WATCH will continue to be published for as long as scammers attempt to target the Fort Myers Beach community.

The Town has recently identified three separate scam schemes either targeting or impacting Fort Myers Beach residents. While not all incidents resulted in financial loss, Town officials are taking these matters seriously and acting proactively to reduce risk and prevent future harm.

Identified Scam Activity

QR Code Sticker Scam (Prevented)

The Town previously issued a warning regarding fraudulent QR code stickers placed over legitimate parking signage. These scams redirect users to fake payment websites designed to steal personal or financial information.

No Fort Myers Beach residents were affected. As a precautionary measure, the Town has discontinued the use of QR codes on new parking signage and transitioned to safer payment methods.

Utility Bill Payment Scam

Scammers impersonated payment portals and accounts resembling chamber of commerce or utility-related entities, misleading individuals into submitting water utility payments to fraudulent accounts. These scams rely on urgency and fear of service interruption to pressure payment.

Permit and Meeting Payment Scam

In the most recent incident, scammers accessed publicly available permit information and sent highly convincing emails impersonating Town departments. These emails demanded immediate wire transfer payments to avoid cancellation or delay of permitting or land-use meetings.

One Fort Myers Beach resident, Christal Shola, reported receiving multiple urgent emails requesting payment prior to a scheduled land-use meeting. The messages appeared legitimate and included specific project and meeting details, but the departments listed were fraudulent. After becoming concerned, Ms. Shola went directly to Town Hall to verify the request, ultimately preventing a potential financial loss.

Ms. Shola courageously shared her experience during a public Local Planning Agency meeting and took the additional step of reaching out to the Town and local media, including Ed Ryan, host of Beach Talk Radio, to help ensure others would not fall victim to the same scheme.

“Residents like Christal Shola are exactly what make Fort Myers Beach a safer, stronger community,” the Town Manager said, “Her willingness to speak publicly, ask questions, and alert others reflects the kind of civic engagement that helps stop scams before real harm occurs.”

A Statewide Issue

These scams are not isolated to Fort Myers Beach. Similar fraud schemes have been reported throughout Florida, particularly in communities experiencing rebuilding, development, or increased permitting activity. Scammers commonly exploit publicly available data to impersonate government entities and create a false sense of urgency.

Similar scams have been reported in other Florida communities and counties, illustrating that these tactics are part of a broader pattern of fraudulent activity across the state. Law enforcement in Pinellas County recently warned residents about fake QR code scams, where scammers place counterfeit codes over legitimate ones to steal financial information from unsuspecting users. WGCU PBS & NPR for Southwest Florida Meanwhile in St. Johns County, officials issued urgent warnings about wire-transfer permit scams that use spoofed email addresses and fake invoices to trick residents into sending money for Growth Management services that never existed. St. Johns County Utility companies and consumer protection agencies throughout Florida have also alerted customers to scam attempts involving imposters claiming utility service threats or demanding immediate payment via prepaid cards, wire transfers, or other hard-to-trace methods. Florida Public Utilities+1 These examples demonstrate that scammers are exploiting publicly available data, official branding, and social engineering nationwide, reinforcing the importance of vigilance and verification.

Introducing FRAUD WATCH

To enhance transparency and resident protection, the Town is launching FRAUD WATCH, a scam-alert newsletter that will provide:

Notifications of known scam attempts

Clear guidance on official Town communication and payment practices

Tips to identify red flags and verify legitimate requests

Updates on preventative actions taken by the Town

Residents are encouraged to read and share FRAUD WATCH alerts with neighbors, contractors, and businesses.

Important Reminders

The Town of Fort Myers Beach does not request payment by wire transfer.

Residents should always verify payment requests using official Town contact information or by visiting Town Hall in person.

If a request feels urgent, unusual, or inconsistent, residents should pause and confirm before taking action.

Reporting Suspicious Activity

Residents who receive suspicious emails, texts, or payment requests claiming to be from the Town are encouraged to report them to the Town of Fort Myers Beach Public Information Office.

“Scammers rely on fear and urgency,” Town Manager, Will McKannay added- “An informed and engaged community is the strongest defense.”

For additional information or to report suspected fraud, please contact the Town of Fort Myers Beach Public Information Office at 239-313-1542.

“Scammers should be warned. The people of Fort Myers Beach have already been through hell, and they are not about to be scammed on top of it,” said Abigail Eberhart, Public Information Officer for the Town of Fort Myers Beach. “This is a resilient, close-knit community. Anyone who tries to take advantage of our residents will be met with awareness and FMB fury.”