The Augusta Chronicle reported:
Columbia County authorities are investigating a pair of recent larcenies committed by phone and email that fleeced two Martinez businesses out of at least $150,000.
Rainbow Play Systems, 209 Bobby Jones Expy., reported to the CCSO on Oct. 23 that the business received an email Oct. 15 from a sender posing as a vendor requesting $50,000 for services the vendor supposedly completed for Raimbow Play.
A person identifying himself as an employee with Cadence Bank's fraud department called CSRA Probation's bookkeeper "on multiple occasions" between Sept. 24 and Oct. 24 saying he was investigating a "fraudulent transaction," according to the CCSO.
The bookkeeper "provided sufficient bank account information to allow the subject to electronically withdraw funds," the CCSO said, though the precise amount wasn't yet known at the time of the report because the bank account was frozen.
Columbia County authorities are investigating a pair of recent larcenies committed by phone and email that fleeced two Martinez businesses out of at least $150,000.
Rainbow Play Systems, 209 Bobby Jones Expy., reported to the CCSO on Oct. 23 that the business received an email Oct. 15 from a sender posing as a vendor requesting $50,000 for services the vendor supposedly completed for Raimbow Play.
A person identifying himself as an employee with Cadence Bank's fraud department called CSRA Probation's bookkeeper "on multiple occasions" between Sept. 24 and Oct. 24 saying he was investigating a "fraudulent transaction," according to the CCSO.
The bookkeeper "provided sufficient bank account information to allow the subject to electronically withdraw funds," the CCSO said, though the precise amount wasn't yet known at the time of the report because the bank account was frozen.
Find the original article here.
Key Takeaway: Never reveal banking information via phone - only confirm, once they authenticate. Add internal controls so an unrecognized fraudulent email does not turn into payment fraud.
Enroll in Training Sessions: Last Thursday of Every Month is Training on Frauds and New Scam Alerts and How to Combat
Key Takeaway: Never reveal banking information via phone - only confirm, once they authenticate. Add internal controls so an unrecognized fraudulent email does not turn into payment fraud.
Enroll in Training Sessions: Last Thursday of Every Month is Training on Frauds and New Scam Alerts and How to Combat