Warren County wired away $3.3 million after falling for a sophisticated phishing scam, even though a vendor warned of the threat months earlier, according to the Times Union. The fraud unfolded in December when someone posing as a contractor requested payment changes and convinced county staff to send two large wire transfers.
The money was meant for Peckham Industries, a longtime county contractor, but scammers rerouted the funds after imitating company emails and invoices. Peckham had warned county public works officials in July about similar scams, but that alert never reached the treasurer’s office.
Investigators believe some suspects withdrew cash from New York ATMs. Officials say they expect to recover at least $1.2 million, while probes by the FBI and state agencies continue in Warren County.
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