A new cyber fraud campaign targeting businesses and individuals has been flagged by the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI). Authorities say cybercriminals are sending fake emails while impersonating city and county administration officials to trick victims into making fraudulent payments.
According to the advisory, the phishing campaign mainly targets people who have applied for land-use permits, planning approvals, or zoning permits. Fraudsters use publicly available information to create emails that appear official and legitimate.
Victims reportedly receive emails that include details such as their permit application number, property address, or zoning information. The message then claims that an additional fee is required to process the permit.
Recipients are instructed to transfer the payment through wire transfers, peer-to-peer payment platforms, or cryptocurrency. In many cases, scammers attach fake invoices to make the email appear more authentic.
Investigators say the scam often succeeds because the information included in the email matches real permit applications. Cybercriminals collect data from publicly accessible records and application details available online to identify potential victims and craft personalized phishing emails.
Cybersecurity agencies say several warning signs can help identify such fraudulent messages. These include emails sent from non-government domains instead of official government addresses, urgent requests for payments, attachments asking recipients to request additional details through email, and demands for immediate payment to avoid delays in the permit process.
Scammers sometimes send these emails at the same time when legitimate government communication is expected, making the messages appear more convincing.
Experts advise individuals and businesses to verify such emails before making any payment. This includes checking the sender’s email address and domain carefully. Recipients are also encouraged to contact the relevant city or county administration directly to confirm whether any legitimate fee is pending.
Authorities also urge victims or recipients of suspicious emails to report the incident immediately. Important details such as the scammer’s email address, date of the email, phone numbers used, and the amount mentioned in the fake invoice should be shared with investigators to help track those responsible.
Similar scams have been reported in recent years where criminals impersonated government or law enforcement officials. In some cases, scammers used spoofed phone numbers to pose as officers and demand money. There have also been incidents where criminals promised to recover money lost in previous scams to deceive victims again.
More recently, authorities have warned about phishing attacks using AI-generated voice deepfakes to target officials and individuals.
Cybercrime expert and former IPS officer Triveni Singh said cybercriminals are increasingly relying on social engineering instead of technical hacking methods.
“Criminals often gain people’s trust and trick them into sharing sensitive information or making payments. Phishing emails sent in the name of government officials are part of this strategy. Therefore, it is extremely important to verify any information before making online payments.”
Experts say that as digital services continue to expand rapidly, awareness and vigilance remain the most effective protection against cyber fraud.
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