Scammers are spoofing Novi Mayor Justin Fischer's contact information to send fraudulent messages to residents and businesses, the City of Novi warned in a public alert issued Thursday, July 16.

The fake communications claim to come from Fischer and pitch alleged business development opportunities. The city said scammers are using spoofed email addresses and phone numbers to make the messages look legitimate.

Fischer does not personally reach out to individuals or businesses through unsolicited emails, texts, or phone calls regarding business development, investment solicitations, or other city business, according to the city's alert.

What to do if you get a suspicious message

The city's guidance is direct: do not respond, do not click any links, and do not provide personal or financial information. Delete the message. Then verify its legitimacy by contacting the City of Novi through official channels at cityofnovi.org.

Not the first impersonation scam in Novi

The mayor impersonation is not the first time scammers have used official-sounding identities to target Novi residents. The Novi Police Department has previously warned about callers impersonating police sergeants, falsely telling victims they had outstanding warrants and demanding immediate payment to avoid arrest. In that case, the department reminded residents that police will never call to inform someone of a warrant or ask for money over the phone.

In both cases, the scammers leveraged the perceived authority of local officials.

How to report

Anyone who believes they have been victimized or has questions about a suspicious message should contact the Novi Police Department at (248) 348-7100.

The city has not disclosed how many residents have received the fraudulent messages, whether any financial losses have been reported, or whether an active investigation is underway.