OWOSSO, Mich. — An official in a small Michigan county has resigned after being tricked into wiring $50,000 to an overseas bank account.
OWOSSO, Mich. — An official in a small Michigan county has resigned after being tricked into wiring $50,000 to an overseas bank account.
Shiawassee County apparently was the victim of a phishing scam. Financial administrator Patricia Fitnich believed that she was replying to an email from another county official about paying a bill.
A county administrator, Michael Herendeen, tells The Argus-Press newspaper that Fitnich had “done a number of fine things” over two years but she realized “this was a major mistake.”
Police are investigating. Officials will see if insurance will cover the loss, but Herendeen says it seems unlikely.
Shiawassee County is about 80 miles (129 kilometers) northwest of Detroit. It has a population of 68,000.
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Information from: The Argus-Press, http://www.argus-press.com
