By Wayland Post Staff
The Wayland Police Department is warning residents of a scam that asks for payment via a wire transfer to the town’s Zoning Board of Appeals.
Police are alerting residents that the Wayland ZBA does not collect fees this way and to not send any money. A similar scam happened at the end of 2025 when the scammers claimed they were from the Wayland Planning Board.
Police issued the following statement:
“The Wayland Police Department would like to inform residents of an ongoing scam that has been reported in several area communities, including Wayland. The scam involves fraudulent emails that appear to be legitimate communications from the Wayland Zoning Board of Appeals (WZBA).
“These emails may request payment or reference zoning-related matters in a way that seems official. However, the emails are not sent by the Town of Wayland or the WZBA. Instead, they originate from a third party attempting to collect money fraudulently.
“Please be advised that the Wayland Zoning Board of Appeals does not accept wire transfers or electronic payment requests. Official WZBA payments are accepted only by cash or check and are handled directly through the Town of Wayland.
“Residents are urged to exercise caution when receiving unsolicited emails claiming to be from the WZBA or any other town department — especially those requesting payment, personal information, or immediate action.
“If you receive a suspicious email or invoice that appears to be from the Wayland Zoning Board of Appeals, please do not respond or submit payment. Instead, forward the email to zba@wayland.ma.us for review and further investigation.
“Additional information about this scam and guidance on identifying official town communications can be found on the Town of Wayland’s website.
“The Wayland Police Department thanks residents for their vigilance and cooperation in helping protect the community from fraudulent activity.”
Residents with questions or concerns regarding the wire transfer scams or any potential scam can contact Detective Sergeant Tyler Castagno at 508-358-1735 or tcastagno@wayland.ma.us.
