The FBI is alerting the public to an increasingly sophisticated scam targeting anyone with an active land-use or zoning permit application. Criminals are impersonating local government officials and sending official-looking emails demanding payment for permit-related fees. These aren’t random spam messages. The fraudsters do their homework first, pulling publicly available permit data to include your actual property address, case number, and even the real names of officials you may already be in contact with.
The emails are alarmingly convincing. They use professional formatting, government-style letterheads, and accurate application details that make them look completely legitimate at first glance. Victims are then directed to pay via wire transfer, peer-to-peer apps, or cryptocurrency, and the attached invoices go out of their way to discourage any phone verification, telling you to keep all correspondence in writing for “audit trail” purposes. That detail alone is a red flag. Real government offices have no problem with you picking up the phone.
The warning signs are worth memorizing: the sender’s email domain is not a government address (look for things like “@usa.com” instead of your city or county’s official domain), the message creates a false sense of urgency by threatening permit delays, and all payment requests are routed through untraceable methods.
Protecting yourself comes down to one simple habit: if you receive any email requesting payment for a permit, call your city or county office directly using the number listed on their official website, not the one in the email. Never trust email addresses, logos, or letterheads alone as proof of legitimacy.
If you believe you have been targeted or victimized, file a report with the FBI’s Internet Crime Complaint Center at www.ic3.gov and include the sender’s email address, the date you received it, the dollar amount on the invoice, and any bank details provided.
Thanmay Sarath is a Mensa member, ethical hacker, entrepreneur, and technologist passionate about cybersecurity and innovation. A researcher, international speaker, and published author, he works at the intersection of technology, security, and social impact, helping organizations and communities stay safe in an increasingly digital world.