ITHACA, NY (607NewsNow) – Scam alert in Tompkins County.

The Tompkins County Sheriff’s Office has received reports of a mortgage insurance scam.

The perpetrator uses publicly available online information to create fraudulent invoices that appear to originate from local municipalities. If you receive an invoice or email requesting a payment, Sheriff Derek Osborne says to call the municipality directly to verify first.

If you believe you’ve been scammed, contact law enforcement and your bank as soon as possible.