Platte County Treasurer Rob Willard fell for an e-mail scam Friday, and it cost the county more than $48,000.
Willard received an e-mail, purportedly from Presiding Commissioner Ron Scheiber, requesting an immediate wire transfer of $48,200 to a Florida bank to pay for tax consulting services.
Scheiber was on vacation and not responding to text messages and it was late in the day – nearing closing time for the Florida bank.
Willard said the e-mail looked legitimate and seemed urgent, so he complied ... all before Scheiber checked his messages
“People make mistakes ... this was a big one,” Scheiber told TV-9 Wednesday.
The con artists apparently contacted at least seven counties with their spoofing scheme and at least one other, Barton County, Kansas, took the bait.
The FBI is investigating the multi-state scam.
Steve Bell is afternoon newscaster and business news reporter for KCUR. He may be reached at 816-235-5173 or steveb@kcur.org
