Officials Explain How to Recognize Legitimate Requests and Report Suspicious Messages

The Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control (DNREC) is asking businesses and organizations that currently hold or are applying for DNREC permits to watch for fraudulent emails and phone calls from people impersonating DNREC staff and requesting payment of permit and licensing fees.

Recent scam emails and calls have falsely told recipients that a permit application requires an additional fee or that a permit holder is behind on fee payments. Some fraudulent emails include real permit application numbers, fee amounts and staff names, which were likely taken from DNREC public notices. However, any attempt to solicit money from DNREC via email or telephone for licenses or permits is a scamming attempt, since those transactions are legitimately conducted either online via the DNREC website, or in person at DNREC offices across the state, including Delaware State Parks.

Affected DNREC divisions and programs, working with the state Department of Technology and Information (DTI), have reached out to customers informing them of the scam. DNREC has identified the phishing attempts from three email addresses that have no connection to the Department or state government: delaware-dnrec@usa.com, dnrec.delaware@usa.com and DNREC.de@usa.com. The phishing emails state that check payment is not allowed and that funds must be transferred by clicking on a link to a fake website. Companies or organizations receiving these phishing attempts are asked to get in touch immediately with the DNREC contact or contacts for their permits and applications. The Federal Bureau of Investigation issued a bulletin in March about scams using the usa.com domain, which can be found at www.ic3.gov/PSA/2026/PSA260309

DNREC and DTI remind everyone that legitimate email from a State of Delaware agency comes from an address ending in @delaware.gov. Since sender names can be faked, DTI advises recipients to check full email addresses, not just the name that appears, and to watch for addresses that look similar to official ones.

Anyone who receives a suspicious payment request should not click any links, open attachments, reply to the request or attempt to make payment. Anyone who receives a suspicious call should not provide payment or account information. Instead, they should notify their DNREC permit contact and then delete the message. The fraudulent emails and calls have so far targeted permit applicants and holders, not the general public.

About DNREC
The Delaware Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control protects and manages the state’s natural resources, protects public health, provides outdoor recreational opportunities and educates Delawareans about the environment. For more information, visit the website and connect with @DelawareDNREC on YouTube, Facebook, Instagram, X or LinkedIn

Media contacts: Michael Globetti, michael.globetti@delaware.gov; Nikki Lavoie, nikki.lavoie@delaware.gov 

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