$12.5B
FTC-reported fraud losses in 2024
FTC says consumers reported losing $12.5 billion to fraud in 2024.
fake building permit website scam
Scam websites pose as local government permit offices, charging homeowners and contractors for building permits that are never filed or processed.
“government website scam”
↑ 125.4%Key indicators
Usually targetsSmall business owners
Often hitsFreelancers and contractors
Common regionUnited States
Last updated2026-04-04
Estimated impact
$960
median reported loss
Typical range$60 – $6.0K
Recovery rate~15%
Scam breakdown
1
Scammers create websites mimicking local government permit portals, targeting homeowners planning renovations.
2
They charge application fees and collect project details, addresses, and personal information.
3
No permit is ever filed, potentially leaving homeowners in violation of building codes and out the money paid.
What to do first
Apply for building permits only through your city or county's official government website or in person at the permit office.
Related terms
bogus permit application sitefake construction permitmunicipal permit fraud websiteFake government website scamsWebsiteSurgingSmall business ownersCitizensFreelancers and contractorsSmall business ownersTech workers and developersUnited StatesCanadabogus permit application sitefake construction permit
Real-world example
How this scam plays out in practice
Based on reported patterns. Names and details are illustrative.
The setup
Samantha, 45, a small business owners, encountered what appeared to be a legitimate fake government website scams situation while using Website. Scammers create websites mimicking local government permit portals, targeting homeowners planning renovations.
Step 2
What happened next was calculated: They charge application fees and collect project details, addresses, and personal information.
Step 3
The pressure escalated quickly: No permit is ever filed, potentially leaving homeowners in violation of building codes and out the money paid.
The outcome
Samantha realized something was wrong when the website charges a convenience fee on top of normal permit costs. By that point, significant damage had already been done — money sent, personal information shared, or trust exploited.
The lesson
Apply for building permits only through your city or county's official government website or in person at the permit office. Samantha's experience shows why the website charges a convenience fee on top of normal permit costs and the domain does not match your city or county's official government website are the clearest early warning signs.
How to identify it
- The website charges a convenience fee on top of normal permit costs
- The domain does not match your city or county's official government website
- The site cannot be found through your local government's official homepage
- Pause before paying, clicking, or sharing information. Scammers rely on speed.
- Verify the sender, company, or agency using a phone number or website you already know is legitimate.
- Treat secrecy, urgency, and off-platform payment requests as strong scam signals.
What to do now
- ✓Apply for building permits only through your city or county's official government website or in person at the permit office.
- ✓Call your local building department to verify any permit website before submitting applications or payments.
- ✓Report fraudulent permit websites to your local government and the FTC.
What to save before reporting
- ✓Save the message, profile, phone number, email, or URL that was used.
- ✓Keep payment confirmations, receipts, and account alerts before you dispute or delete anything.
- ✓Write down the timeline while the details are still fresh.
How big is this problem
You are not alone — this scam affects millions of people.
These numbers come from government agencies and official reports. If you have been affected, know that this is a widespread problem — not something that only happens to careless people.
FTC 2024 fraud losses
Imposters
Most common FTC fraud category in 2024
FTC says imposter scams remained the most commonly reported fraud category in 2024.
History and evolution
- This scam family tends to persist because the social-engineering pressure works even when the exact scripts, platforms, and payment methods change.
- The specific packaging evolves over time, but the core pattern usually stays the same: create urgency, control the channel, and push action before verification.
- The BBB reports that government impersonation scams targeting small businesses and homeowners have increased, with online permit fraud being a growing sub-category.
Recovery and follow-up
- ✓Save the messages, receipts, account alerts, and transaction details before you block or delete anything.
- ✓Report the scam through the official platform or government channel that best matches where it happened.
- ✓Apply for building permits only through your city or county's official government website or in person at the permit office.
- ✓Call your local building department to verify any permit website before submitting applications or payments.
- ✓Report fraudulent permit websites to your local government and the FTC.
Why this pattern keeps working
Even when the story changes, most scams still use the same pressure pattern: urgency, authority, and a request to move money or data fast.
The BBB reports that government impersonation scams targeting small businesses and homeowners have increased, with online permit fraud being a growing sub-category.
BBB Scam Tracker 2025
Where to report it
If you have been targeted by this scam, reporting it helps authorities track the pattern and protect others. United States has dedicated agencies that handle fraud reports.
ReportFraud.gov
Federal Trade Commission
Central U.S. consumer fraud reporting portal.
File an IC3 complaint
FBI Internet Crime Complaint Center
FBI portal for internet-enabled crime reports.
Start identity theft recovery
IdentityTheft.gov
Official U.S. identity theft recovery plan builder.
Explore further
Understand the bigger picture
Who is most at risk
Who this scam targets
Primary targets
Small business owners, Citizens
Geographic concentration
United States, Canada
Primary channel
Website — Fake government website scams
Why this group is vulnerable
Small business owners are particularly vulnerable because this scam exploits trust in familiar brands, authority figures, and time-sensitive decisions. The rapid increase in reports suggests that awareness among this demographic remains low.
Sources and methodology
How we verify this information
OpenScam tracks scam patterns using a combination of government consumer protection databases (FTC, IC3, Action Fraud), platform-specific fraud reports, and verified consumer complaint data. Each entry is cross-referenced against at least two independent sources before publication.
Severity ratings are based on financial impact potential, reversibility of damage, and volume of reports across multiple reporting channels. Trend velocity reflects the rate of change in report volume over the most recent 90-day window.
This page was last verified on 2026-04-04. Red flags, recovery steps, and reporting resources are reviewed quarterly against current agency guidance.
Evidence and indicators
- The BBB reports that government impersonation scams targeting small businesses and homeowners have increased, with online permit fraud being a growing sub-category.
Source notes
- BBB Scam Tracker 2025
Frequently asked questions
Common questions about fake building permit website scam
How does the fake building permit website scam work?+
Scammers create websites mimicking local government permit portals, targeting homeowners planning renovations. They charge application fees and collect project details, addresses, and personal information. No permit is ever filed, potentially leaving homeowners in violation of building codes and out the money paid.
What are the warning signs of fake building permit website scam?+
The website charges a convenience fee on top of normal permit costs The domain does not match your city or county's official government website The site cannot be found through your local government's official homepage
What should I do if I encounter fake building permit website scam?+
Apply for building permits only through your city or county's official government website or in person at the permit office. Call your local building department to verify any permit website before submitting applications or payments. Report fraudulent permit websites to your local government and the FTC.
Who is most at risk for fake building permit website scam?+
This scam primarily targets Small business owners, Citizens. It is most commonly reported in United States, Canada and typically appears on Website.
Is fake building permit website scam getting worse?+
fake building permit website scam is currently surging — reports are increasing rapidly. It has been reported across US, CA. Last updated 2026-04-04.
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What to do first
Go directly to the tax authority website instead of using message links.
Targets
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What to do first
Use the tax authority's official website instead of the text.
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Government impersonation
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What to do first
Verify the survey through the agency website before participating.
Targets
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Seen in
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Help someone avoid this scam.
Scammers succeed because people do not talk about it. If you or someone you know has been affected, there is no shame in it — it happens to millions of people every year. Share this page with friends and family so they know what to look for.
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