AT&T Digital Life Alarm Permit Email: Scam or Legit?

Did you receive an email from AT&T Digital Life about an alarm permit required in your area? I did, and asked AT&T if it was real or not. Their answer? “Maybe.”

AT&T Digital Life

Digital Life is AT&T’s brand name for a line of home automation and security products.

The Email

On September 29, 2014, I received an email from AT&T Digital Life with a subject of AT&T Digital Life Alarm Permits. The email stated that some municipalities require alarm permits, and I needed to fill out the required form along with a check for $100 – made out to a county thousands of miles from my home in Southern Nevada. The document cited an incorrect location – and requested money – which initially seemed quite suspicious. As I looked at the attached document, however, it began to look more legitimate. The check was to be made out to the Nassau County Police, with the correct address for that police department.

Hello AT&T Digital Life Customer,

We’re reaching out to let you know that many municipalities have adopted ordinances which regulate the use of alarm systems. To provide an effortless experience we have researched the requirements in your area.

Alarm Permit Registration

Nassau County requires an alarm permit to be filed. There is a $100 alarm permit fee payable to the department issuing the alarm permit. To obtain the required permit please complete the attached application and send it with the fee to the address indicated on the application.

Once you have your alarm permit number or if you already have an existing permit, please reply to this email with your permit number, expiration date and service address. You may also contact us online or call us at 855.288.2727, and select option 4.

Please note that failure to obtain an alarm permit or registration when it’s required may lead to additional fees or fines from the municipality.

Some municipalities require additional permits for the installation of the alarm service. If these are required we will obtain them on your behalf. We ask that you confirm these requirements as they do change from time to time.

Permit Required for Dispatch

Nassau County prohibits alarm companies from requesting police response to burglar alarm activations without a valid alarm permit for you in our records. If the permit process is not completed or if the permit number is not provided to us we may not be able to call to request police response to your alarm system.

Why it seemed suspicious:

• It did not address me by name, but “AT&T Digital Life Customer”
• It cited the wrong location
• A $100 payment was requested
• I received three copies of the same email, in quick succession

Why it seemed legit:

• Requested check was to be made out and mailed to the Nassau County Police Department.
• Correct addresses and phone numbers listed for AT&T and Police
• AT&T confirmed such notices are sent out.

The Document

Below is a screenshot of the document I received.

AT&T Response

I called AT&T Digital Life and spoke with a representative about the email. She said that the company does send out notifications regarding permits which are required in some areas of the country. She noted that my area did not need a permit, and I should not have received such a message. When I asked her if she believed the email was perhaps from AT&T but mistakenly sent out for some reason, she replied with a “maybe.” She was careful not to say if the email a scam or if AT&T mistakenly emailed this message, but assured me that it didn’t apply to me.

Bottom Line

If you received an email from AT&T Digital Life about an alarm permit, but for an area in which you do not live, it may be a legitimate email mistakenly mailed to you. If you’re still unsure about required permits in your area, a quick call to AT&T Digital Life customer support should clear things up.

Be sure to read my review of the AT&T Home Security System.

Your Turn

Did you receive a strange notice about AT&T Alarm Permits in your area? Tell me about it in the comments below.