Craven County Sheriff Warns of Phishing Scam Targeting New Bern Permit Applicants

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The Craven County Sheriff's Office is alerting residents about a phishing scam targeting people who have applied for permits in the city of New Bern. The scammers are accessing public documents to identify permit applicants, then sending them fake invoices that appear to be from the city and demand payment via wire transfer. The sheriff's office advises recipients not to click on anything in the emails, respond, or send any money, as the City of New Bern does not accept wire transfers for services.

Why it matters

This scam takes advantage of the public nature of permit application records to target vulnerable residents, potentially costing them significant sums of money. It also undermines public trust in local government by using official branding and employee names to lend an air of legitimacy to the fraudulent requests.

The details

According to the Craven County Sheriff's Office, the scammers are sending emails with the @ newbernnc.gov domain, making them appear to be legitimate city communications. The emails include the city logo and the names of actual city employees to further the deception. However, the sheriff's office states that the City of New Bern does not accept wire transfers for any services, so these invoices are fraudulent.

• The Craven County Sheriff's Office issued the warning on February 24, 2026.

What’s next

The Craven County Sheriff's Office is urging residents to be vigilant and to contact the authorities if they receive any suspicious emails demanding wire transfers, even if they appear to be from the City of New Bern.