FBI Warns of Phishing Scam Impersonating Local Zoning Officials

The FBI is warning U.S. homeowners, builders and renovators about a new phishing scam in which criminals impersonate city and county planning or zoning officials to collect fake permit fees. According to the bureau, scammers mine public information from local government websites about zoning applications and development permits, then send emails that reference real property addresses, application numbers or scheduled hearings to make the messages appear legitimate and urgent. Victims are pushed to pay supposed fees quickly via wire transfers, peer‑to‑peer payment apps or cryptocurrency, making the money difficult or impossible to recover, and security experts say AI tools are increasingly being used to personalize these emails and target seniors. The FBI highlights red flags such as non‑.gov sender domains, unusual payment methods, and emails that manufacture time pressure or attach forms instructing recipients to reply for more details, and stresses that legitimate permit offices rarely demand payments through those channels. The warning fits a broader rise in government‑impersonation scams, prompting calls from cybersecurity professionals for local agencies to better secure permit data and educate applicants about how they will and will not be contacted.