FTC Warns About Party Invitation Scams

The FBI is warning the public about a nationwide phishing scam in which criminals impersonate city and county planning or zoning officials to request fraudulent payments for permit fees. Scammers are using publicly available permit information, such as real permit applications or property information, to send emails with detailed permit information and attach invoices requesting payment via wire transfer, peer-to-peer payment services such as Venmo, Zelle, or Pay Pal, or cryptocurrency. The emails claim that immediate payment is required to avoid delays, penalties, or permit suspension.

As an important reminder, Permit Sonoma does not accept permit fee payments via wire transfer, cryptocurrency, or peer-to-peer payment services. Any attempt to request and collect permit fees in this way should be considered fraudulent. You can protect yourself by not assuming an email is legitimate based on logos, letterhead, or official names, and by carefully reviewing the sender's email address and website domain. Be cautious of urgent payment requests and threats regarding permit delays.

If you receive a suspicious message related to permits or fees, contact Permit Sonoma directly to confirm payment, by phone at (707) 565-1900 or email [email protected].

If you believe you have received a fraudulent email, please report the incident to Permit Sonoma and file a complaint with the FBI Internet Crime Complaint Center at https://www.ic3.gov/.