by Debbie Burke
You may be familiar with email and text scams from fraudsters claiming you missed jury duty or owe traffic fines or road tolls. Immediate payment is demanded, or they threaten you’ll be arrested, your driver’s license suspended, yada, yada, yada.
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When such messages are sent by email, they’re called “phishing.” Those sent by text are “smishing.”
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Many victims fall for these scams because the convincing messages look and sound like the government agencies they supposedly represent. Plus they play on fear and urgency.
Well, criminals have stepped up to a new level of sophistication.
If you plan to build, remodel, make additions, or otherwise change the use of your property, you may need to obtain permits and/or licenses. When a business or individual applies, the information filed for those projects is publicly available and can be accessed by criminals. That includes the property address, as well as actual code numbers for required permits.
In some states (like Florida), even a change as small as replacing a window requires permits, inspections, and, of course, fees.
Zoning and licensing departments are usually backed up, causing delays in project completion while the property owner waits for inspections and re-inspections before they receive approval to continue.
So it’s not surprising to receive an email that appears to originate from these agencies demanding fees. If you don’t pay immediately, they warn your project will be delayed, disapproved, and blocked.
Anyone who’s ever built a house or developed property understands the frustration of constant delays, as well as fees on top of fees on top of more fees.
Criminals are quick to recognize new profit opportunities. Permit and license scams are among the latest.
The FBI issued a public service announcement on March 9, 2026, warning about the recent rising trend of phishing emails from criminals impersonating government departments.
According to the PSA:
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The emails contain detailed, accurate information about planning and zoning requests, including property addresses, case numbers, and the true names of city and county officials.
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The emails use professional language, formatting, and imagery consistent with legitimate government communications for planning and zoning applications, including review processes, planning commission procedures, regulatory compliance, and relevant ordinances.
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The email addresses contain usernames similar to city or county planning and zoning departments but originate from non-governmental domains, such as “@usa.com”
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Email delivery may be timed to coincide with ongoing communications with city and county officials regarding the permitting process.
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Attached PDF invoices contain itemized statements of purported fees and direct applicants to request payment instructions via email, rather than telephone, to ensure a reliable audit trail for all correspondence related to the application. This is designed to deter the victim from calling the city or county office to verify the fees.
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The emails emphasize urgency, threatening delays or other obstacles in the permitting process if the applicant does not immediately render payment.
So how do you determine if an email is real or fraudulent?
- If they demand payment by wire transfer, peer-to-peer payment service, or cryptocurrency, it is a fraud. Government agencies do not require these methods. But criminals love them because funds can’t be traced, and you can’t recover your money.
- Check the actual website (NOT the link in the email). You may find the agency has posted warnings with updates about new scams.
- Call the agency using the phone number listed on their official website (NOT a number from the email). Find out if fees are actually due.
Some agencies even reach out proactively to warn of scams. For instance, a few days ago, I received an email from the Montana Secretary of State who handles business licenses. She warned impersonators were making bogus demands for fees from business owners.
Since her email didn’t ask for money, I knew it was genuine!
The FBI adds:
If you or someone you know has fallen victim to this impersonation scam, file a complaint with the IC3 at www.ic3.gov. Be sure to include any available information including:
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The email address, date of email, phone number, if provided;
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The date of your project’s scheduled hearing, if applicable; and,
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The amount listed in the fraudulent invoice, the method requested to pay fees, and bank account information, if provided.
Under the best circumstances, the permit and licensing process is glacial in speed.
Unfortunately, in some instances, internal corruption means shakedowns and bribes are required before a project moves forward. Remember The Sopranos?
Now phishing scams will mire systems even more as people call to find out if notices are fakes. Plus agencies must field complaints from victims who’ve been defrauded.
Ironically, so-called “artificial” intelligence is being used to create scams that appear increasingly real.
Credit: Andrea Pokrzywinski
As AI improves, new phishing emails may not smell as phishy as older versions but they still are frauds (phrauds?).
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TKZers: Have you encountered phishing or smishing?
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In Stalking Midas, glamorous con artist Cassandra Maza doesn’t need AI. Instead, she uses charm and flattery to ensnare her latest prey: a cranky senior who loves his nine rescue cats. Then investigator Tawny Lindholm uncovers the scam. Cassandra has killed before and each time it gets easier. Now Tawny is in her sights.