The Federal Bureau of Investigation and Irvine Police Department are warning the public about an emerging phishing scheme by criminals impersonating City and county officials to solicit fraudulent payments for City and county planning and zoning permits. The criminals leverage publicly available permit information to identify potential victims and increase the legitimacy of the scam.

City of Irvine staff will never contact the public without prior warning to demand immediate payment for fines, warrants, or fees associated with permits or property. 

Common indicators of the scheme are:

• The emails contain detailed, accurate information about planning and zoning requests, including property addresses, case numbers, and the names of City and county officials.
• 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.
• The email addresses contain usernames similar to City or county planning and zoning departments but originate from non-governmental domains, such as "@usa.com"
• Email delivery may be timed to coincide with ongoing communications with City and county officials regarding the permitting process.
• 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.
• The emails emphasize urgency, threatening delays or other obstacles in the permitting process if the applicant does not immediately render payment.

How to protect yourself:

• Be suspicious of unexpected calls, emails, or texts claiming to be from a government agency.
• Never pay surprise bills or fines without checking directly with the agency using an official phone number or website.
• Do not use numbers or links in suspicious messages. Always look up the agency’s phone number yourself and verify the information.
• Never share your personal or financial information with anyone who contacts you unexpectedly.
• Never pay with gift cards, wire transfers, cryptocurrency, or payment apps. These are red flags for scams.

If you think you have been targeted or scammed, please contact the Irvine Police Department at 949-724-7000 to file a report.