The city of Liberty has reported that it fell victim to a fraudulent wire transfer amounting to nearly $600,000, following an email request that appeared to come from a legitimate vendor.
According to city officials, the internal network remained secure and unbreached. The incident is currently under investigation by both local and federal law enforcement agencies.
Details of the Fraudulent Transfer
A press release from the city revealed that the fraudulent transfer was triggered by a payment request from an email address that closely resembled that of an actual vendor. The city had an existing obligation to this vendor for the same amount as the fraudulent transfer, which led to the initial belief that the request was genuine, officials noted.
Once the transaction was completed, the receiving bank notified the city’s bank, raising concerns about the legitimacy of the transfer.
City representatives confirmed that their internal systems were not compromised, and the fraudulent activity is believed to have originated from an external source impersonating the vendor’s email domain. They also stated that no parties involved in the original debt—be it the city, the vendor, or any consultants—are suspected of any wrongdoing.
Investigation and Next Steps
City officials have indicated that they cannot disclose further details due to the ongoing investigation. The Liberty Police Department is collaborating with federal authorities to examine the fraudulent transaction thoroughly.
The city has initiated a claim with its insurance provider concerning the cybersecurity incident. In response to this breach, officials have enhanced their verification processes for vendor payments and are committed to ongoing cooperation with law enforcement agencies.
