Brazoria County is alerting residents and local businesses to phishing attempts involving fraudulent emails and invoices targeting active planning and permit applicants, requesting fee payments.

These scam messages may appear to originate from Brazoria County or a County department; however, they are not legitimate.

No Brazoria County office or department will ever request payment by wire transfer. Official fees are collected only in person or through approved County payment platforms.

All official County email addresses end in @brazoriacountytx.gov. Any message sent from a different domain should be treated as suspicious. Fraudulent emails may include documents displaying the County seal or formatting designed to appear official in an attempt to mislead recipients.

If you receive an email requesting payment:

• Do not reply
• Do not click any links
• Do not open attachments
• Immediately contact the County Department directly using the phone number listed on the official website at www.brazoriacountytx.gov
• Forward the suspicious email to the appropriate department for review

Residents and businesses are strongly encouraged to verify the legitimacy of any payment request by contacting the department directly using verified contact information from the County’s official website. Do not rely on phone numbers or email addresses provided within suspicious communications.

When in doubt, individuals may visit the appropriate County department during regular business hours to confirm whether a billing request is valid.

Brazoria County remains committed to protecting residents and businesses from fraudulent activity and encourages everyone to remain vigilant against phishing scams.