FBI alert: scammers target zoning permit applicants

The FBI warns of a nationwide phishing campaign where criminals impersonate city and county planning and zoning officials to trick permit applicants into sending fraudulent payments. Attackers use publicly available permit details to craft convincing emails and attached PDF invoices, direct victims to request payment instructions by email, and demand transfers via wire, P2P apps, or cryptocurrency; the PSA advises verifying sender domains, contacting local offices via official numbers, and reporting fraud to IC3.