For Immediate Release
April 3, 2026
The FBI is warning the public about a phishing scam by criminals impersonating city and county officials to solicit fraudulent payments for local government planning and zoning applications and permits. Criminals use publicly available application and permit information to identify potential victims and make the communications appear legitimate. Victims are instructed to pay invoices for fees related to their applications and permits and directed to make payments via wire transfer, peer-to-peer payment, or cryptocurrency…