Maryland volunteer fire department loses $220K in email scam
- Rockville Volunteer Fire Department email compromised during wire transfer
- Scammers changed the routing number to overseas account; stole $220,000
- Nearly half of the funds recovered; may take months to get it back
Image courtesy: Rockville Volunteer Fire Department
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(NewsNation) — A Maryland volunteer fire department lost more than $200,000 last month after cybercriminals stole funds set aside for a down payment for two new ambulances.
According to the Rockville Volunteer Fire Department, $220,000 was taken by someone impersonating a vendor the department was working with and the money ended up in an overseas account.
During the wire transfer process, the email thread was intercepted and the bank routing number was slightly changed, WJLA-TV reported.
“If you looked at it and followed the string, you’d have to look very closely to see that one letter was changed in the email string,” Eric Bernard, RVFD’s president, told WJLA. “We made the wire and five days went by and our vendor said, “Hey, you gonna finish that wire we were on the phone with.'”
Nearly half of the funds were recovered, but it could take months before the department gets it back, per WJLA.
The Montgomery County Police Department and the FBI are investigating the incident.
RVFD Rockville Volunteer Fire Department has served its community for about 103 years. Donations are being accepted by the Ambulance Recovery Fund to help the department buy new ambulances.
