The City of St. Pete Beach has been made aware of a fraudulent letter being distributed to local lodging and business owners claiming that the City has implemented an “Environmental Tax on lodging accommodations” to fund sea turtle habitat protection, beach preservation, environmental education, and coastal sustainability programs.
- This information is FALSE.
- The City has not implemented any such tax.
- Do not submit payment or provide personal or financial information.
The scam notice may include links, websites, QR codes, or payment instructions designed to appear legitimate. Residents and business owners are strongly encouraged to avoid clicking any links, scanning any codes, or responding to the notice in any way.
If you receive a suspicious letter, email, text message, or phone call claiming to represent the City and requesting payment, always verify the information through official City channels before taking action.
If you have questions about a notice you have received, please contact the City directly. Visit www.stpetebeach.org for official staff contact information.
Please help protect our community by sharing this information with fellow business owners and reporting any suspicious communications. Together, we can prevent fraud and keep our community informed and safe.