FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
May 19, 2025
NEW SCAM TARGETS SENIORS ELIGIBLE FOR TAX RELIEF
ST. CHARLES COUNTY, MO – St. Charles County is warning seniors to be on high alert for a phishing scam targeting people who are eligible for the Seniors Real Estate Property Tax Relief Program (aka “Senior Tax Freeze” or other similar names).
Scammers are sending emails impersonating government offices, claiming urgent updates or actions are required to continue receiving tax relief benefits. These emails often contain links or attachments designed to steal your personal information or install malware on your device.
Communications related to St. Charles County’s senior tax relief program are sent from No-Reply@sccmo.org. These emails do not request any information or contain any links. Text messages are not used to send updates about the program.
“We might periodically email taxpayers for other reasons, such as requesting a physical mailing address and phone number,” says Collector of Revenue Michelle McBride. “These emails will always come from an @sccmo.org address, will never contain links, and won’t ask for personal information other than what we need to call you or send you mail.”
“If you’re concerned an email is a scam, before you click anything, please pick up the phone and call us at 636-949-7470,” McBride advises.
Information about senior property tax relief can be found at sccmo.org/SeniorTaxRelief.
How to spot a phishing email:
- Check the sender’s email address. Government emails usually come from a .gov or .org email address. Be cautious of unfamiliar addresses. Emails from St. Charles County come from @sccmo.org.
- Urgent or threatening language is a red flag. Phrases like “Act now or lose benefits” are often used by scammers to trick victims into going along with the scam instead of taking time to investigate.
- If you’re unsure, call. Use a web browser to look up the phone number for the government office and call them directly to ask if the communication is legitimate. Don’t use the contact information provided in the email unless it matches the official website.
- Watch for spelling or grammar mistakes. Government communications are professionally written and carefully edited.
- Do not click links or open attachments unless you are absolutely sure the email is legitimate.
- Check the website address of links. If you’re using a computer, hover your mouse cursor over a link without clicking on it. You should see a pop up that shows the web address that link goes to. If it doesn’t clearly show a government website, do not click.
Residents are encouraged to share this message with family members or friends, especially those who don’t use email frequently and may not be familiar with these warning signs.
-end-
Media Contact: Kevin Killeen, Managing Director of Communications, 636-949-1856 or 636-443-1008, kkilleen@sccmo.org
About St. Charles County:
St. Charles County, Missouri, founded in 1812, is one of the fastest growing counties in Missouri. With a population of over 415,000, it is the state’s third largest county. It is home to 21 scenic county parks of which three are in reserve, encompassing 4,509 acres.
With one of the largest economies in the state, St. Charles County is home to multinational companies including General Motors, Citi, MasterCard Worldwide and Boeing. It is ranked among the top 25 counties in the nation in high-tech job growth by the Progressive Policy Institute and consistently has the lowest unemployment rate in the Metropolitan St. Louis area.
St. Charles County Government has more than 1,170 employees in more than 30 departments and offices who work to make the county an excellent place to live, work and shop. For more information, please visit sccmo.org.