The FBI is warning the public about an emerging phishing scheme by criminals impersonating City and County officials to solicit fraudulent payments for Planning and zoning permits.
Individuals and businesses with active applications for land-use permits are being targeted by these criminals. Victims receive unsolicited emails from criminals impersonating City and County Planning and zoning board officials, citing their permit information, zoning application numbers, and/or property addresses. Victims are instructed to pay invoices for fees related to their permits and directed to make payments via wire transfer, peer-to-peer payment, or cryptocurrency.
Red flags to watch for:
⚠️ Emails that look official with letterheads, logos, and true names of City and County officials, but will come from non-government domains, such as “@usa.com”
⚠️ Requests for payment via wire transfer, apps, or cryptocurrency
⚠️ Attached invoices may look official and direct you to request payment instructions by email instead of verifying by phone
⚠️ Messages that create urgency or threaten delays
How to Keep Yourself Safe:
✔️ The County will never request payments via wire transfer, peer-to-peer payment, or cryptocurrency
✔️Always verify the email address, including the domain name, matches the email address of the official with whom you are corresponding and does not contain extraneous characters or misspellings
✔️Please call our agencies directly using the phone numbers listed on our websites to confirm any fees or if you have questions about any correspondence that you receive
✔️ Check official websites for any ongoing scam alerts
Read the full alert and report any fraudulent messages or activity by visiting www.ic3.gov/PSA/2026/PSA260309.