The City of Cocoa is working to restore municipal technology systems after what officials have described only as “technical issues” — even as a ransomware gang has publicly taken credit for an attack.

The INCRansom group listed Cocoa among its victims on February 23, according to ransomware.live, a site that monitors extortion group activity and leak sites. City leadership has not acknowledged a cyberattack or confirmed any connection to the claim, referring to the incident strictly as a “technology disruption.” Indeed, it is certainly a disruption when computer systems are locked out by threat actors.

The City’s Response

According to the city’s official statement, the problems surfaced on February 16th. One day later, City Council convened a special priorities and planning meeting and approved an emergency declaration granting leadership authority to fast-track spending and mobilize staff. The city says it is coordinating with outside partners and technical specialists to evaluate and resolve the situation.

In the meantime, municipal operations are running on backup processes. A public FAQ posted by the city spells out the most immediate effects on residents: cash payments for water bills are temporarily off the table, though customers can still pay online, by phone, or by check at City Hall. The city has also halted delinquency processing and is waiving late fees until further notice. Water meters, the city noted, are still being read on their normal schedule.

Some digital services have taken a harder hit. Online water service requests — including turn-on and turn-off forms — submitted in recent days are inaccessible to staff. Residents needing those services must now visit City Hall in person with a paper application, two forms of ID, and proof of ownership or a current lease. Business Tax Receipt submissions are similarly limited to in-person processing on City Hall’s second floor.

The city emphasized that emergency operations and 911 dispatch have not been affected. Residents needing non-emergency police assistance can call 321-639-7621 or 321-639-7622.