BELLINGHAM, Wash. — The city of Bellingham is warning residents and businesses about a phishing scheme. Scammers are targeting people with active permit applications, following an alert from the FBI.
The FBI says scammers use publicly available permit information to impersonate government officials and demand fraudulent payments.
“The FBI is warning that scammers are sending fake emails to permit applicants across the country. These emails use publicly available permit information and claim you owe fees or that your permit or hearing will be delayed if you don’t pay,” the agency said.
As of April 14, the Bellingham Permit Center received one report of an applicant who got a scam email matching this description.
“The city of Bellingham’s Permit Center has received one report of this type of scam,” city officials said. “Remember: The Permit Center will only ask you to make online payments through our eTRAKiT system.”
How the Scam Works
The FBI says criminals target individuals and businesses with active planning, zoning, or development permits. The emails often include accurate project details to appear legitimate.
“The scammers use publicly available permit information to identify potential victims,” the FBI said. “These emails claim fees are owed and that their permits or hearings will be delayed or denied if fees are not paid.”
The messages may also include official-sounding language, real case numbers, and property addresses. They sometimes name actual city or county employees. Furthermore, scammers typically instruct victims to pay fake invoices through wire transfer, peer-to-peer apps, or cryptocurrency.
“The emails emphasize urgency, threatening delays or other obstacles in the permitting process if the applicant does not immediately render payment,” the FBI said.
City Guidance
City officials say residents should use only the official eTRAKiT payment system. Do not respond directly to suspicious messages.
“Please be aware that the only way we will ever ask you to make an online payment is through our eTRAKiT system,” the city said.
Additionally, officials advise residents to take these steps: avoid opening attachments or clicking links in suspicious emails. Call the Permit Center at 360-778-8300 to verify. Do not forward suspected phishing emails. Report incidents to the FBI Internet Crime Complaint Center.
Nationwide Alert
The FBI issued its warning on March 9, 2026. The scam affects jurisdictions nationwide. “Victims of this scam have been identified nationwide,” the FBI said. The agency recommends verifying all permit communications through official government websites and reporting suspicious activity through its IC3 system.
The Permit Center will only ask you to make online payments through our eTRAKiT system.
— City of Bellingham Permit Center
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