Fake City Permit Fee Email Scam
Scam email subject line
Action required: outstanding fee for permit application #[number]
Known variants
Your zoning permit application requires payment
Permit approval pending — fee required
City of [name]: outstanding permit balance
Planning department: invoice for permit #[number]
FBI IC3 issued a March 2026 PSA about this emerging scam: criminals use publicly available permit databases to identify people with active permit applications, then email them fake fee invoices with the real permit number and property address — making the scam very convincing.
Reports
FBI IC3 PSA March 2026 — nationwide victims identified
First documented
2025
Last active
2026-03
⚠ Email subject lines can be spoofed or randomized. Scammers frequently vary subject lines to evade spam filters. This page documents a subject line pattern reported to official government agencies. It is not a factual determination about any specific sender. Contact [email protected] if you believe your organization is listed in error.
Who this email pretends to be from
What this scam email says
Email appears to come from a city or county planning department. It references your real permit application number and property address (obtained from public records). Claims an outstanding fee is due and directs you to pay via wire transfer, Zelle, or cryptocurrency to complete the permit approval.
What this scam email looks like
From: [email protected] Subject: Action required: outstanding fee for permit application #2024-BP-08821 Dear Property Owner, This notice is regarding your permit application #2024-BP-08821 for property at [your real address]. An outstanding processing fee of $347.00 is required to proceed. Payment methods accepted: wire transfer, Zelle, cryptocurrency. Failure to pay within 72 hours will result in permit denial. City Planning & Zoning Department cityplanning-fees-portal.com
Reconstructed example for educational purposes. Not a verbatim reproduction.
Scam email subject line variants
- •Action required: outstanding fee for permit application #[number]
- •Your zoning permit application requires payment
- •Permit approval pending — fee required
- •Planning department: invoice for permit #[number]
5 red flags
FBI IC3 issued a March 2026 PSA specifically about this scam pattern
Scammers use public permit databases to obtain real application numbers and property addresses
City and county agencies never request payment via wire transfer, Zelle, or cryptocurrency
Real permit fees are paid through official municipal websites or in person at city hall
The real permit number and address make this scam highly convincing
What to do
Do not pay via any method in the email
Call your city or county planning department at their official number from their website
Verify any permit fee by visiting city hall or logging into the official permit portal
Report to FBI IC3 at ic3.gov — this is an active 2026 investigation
Report this email scam
Source
FBI IC3 PSA March 2026 (PSA260309) — criminals impersonating city/county officials for planning and zoning permits
https://www.ic3.gov/PSA/2026/PSA260309 ↗Fake sender domains used in this scam
Scammers impersonate legitimate brands using these fraudulent domains. If you received an email from one of these, it is a scam.
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Frequently asked questions
Is an email with subject "Action required: outstanding fee for permit application #[number]" a scam?▼
FBI IC3 issued a March 2026 PSA about this emerging scam: criminals use publicly available permit databases to identify people with active permit applications, then email them fake fee invoices with the real permit number and property address — making the scam very convincing.
What does this scam email say?▼
Email appears to come from a city or county planning department. It references your real permit application number and property address (obtained from public records). Claims an outstanding fee is due and directs you to pay via wire transfer, Zelle, or cryptocurrency to complete the permit approval.
What should I do if I received this email?▼
Do not pay via any method in the email Call your city or county planning department at their official number from their website Verify any permit fee by visiting city hall or logging into the official permit portal
Who does this email pretend to be from?▼
This scam impersonates: City Planning Department, County Zoning Board, Department of Building and Safety, Planning Commission. FBI IC3 issued a March 2026 PSA specifically about this scam pattern
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Check your email →Source: FBI IC3 PSA March 2026 (PSA260309) — criminals impersonating city/county officials for planning and zoning permits
First documented: 2025 · Last active: 2026-03
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