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Posted on 10/27/2026 9:38:57 AM PDT by Red Badger
UPDATE (Oct. 21): Mobile Mayor Spiro Cheriogotis said the city scam that led to the transfer of $15 million to a “fraudulent entity” involved the new Regions Arena.
PREVIOUS REPORTING
MOBILE, Ala. (WKRG) — The City of Mobile transferred $14.7 million to a ‘fraudulent entity’ after it was the target of a criminal scam.
According to a city news release, the city has notified the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Secret Service.
“We are cooperating fully with investigators and taking every available step to recover the funds and bring the responsible party to justice,” the release read.
City officials said the incident will not affect the city’s financial stability due to the “strong financial reserves and other available contingencies.”
===========================================================================================================
GOOGLE AI:
The City of Mobile, Alabama, lost $14.7 million in a business email compromise (vendor impersonation) scam in October 2026.
Key Details
• The Scam: Fraudsters impersonated a legitimate vendor connected to the city's new $300 million Regions Arena construction project, building trust through emails, phone calls, and documents before tricking staff into wiring the funds.
• The Loss: A single wire transfer of $14.7 million was sent to a fraudulent entity.
• Personnel Action: Mayor Spiro Cheriogotis announced that one city employee was terminated and two others were placed on paid administrative leave, though the mayor stressed there is no evidence of an "inside job".
• Investigations: The FBI and the U.S. Secret Service are investigating, alongside a hired forensic accounting firm and law firm.
• Impact on the Arena: City officials stated that construction on the Regions Arena will continue and stay within budget, as the project carries an owner's contingency fund to absorb the blow.
You can read live updates on the investigation via local coverage from Fox 10 News or 1819 News.................
https://1819news.com/news/item/mobile-employee-fired-others-on-leave-after-not-inside-job-fraud-scheme
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Click here: to donate by Credit Card Or here: to donate by PayPal Or by mail to: Free Republic, LLC - PO Box 9771 - Fresno, CA 93794 Thank you very much and God bless you. |
3.5% of their fiscal 2027 budget amount of $414 million.
They are building a state-of-the-art convention center and arena and somebody apparently invoiced them this huge amount and nobody questioned it.............
Yes I blame the city for doing this but I also blame the financial institutions and our government for not having better security in place. I have little doubt better security procedures could be achieved but it seems they don’t want to do it.
We read about the elderly being scammed of their life savings. There needs to be better safeguards.
I’ve heard the scammers mislead them into thinking it was the contractor requesting payment that was due.
None of this is on “our government” or the bank.
We are getting umpteen additional prompts about “Are you sure?”
No, it is on that entity that sent it. Now, if a malicious entity was able to send it, that may be different.
Yep, and the employees didn’t question it........
I believe we need better safeguards for the elderly and I believe there is probably a way to get it done if the effort was put into it.
Similar to what was done to Graceland and the Presley Family. It was hours before the deed was about to be transfered. (Just a few years ago)
How can they be that stupid? If you really are, you have no business in that position and if not, you are a partner in crime.
Said he was a Nigerian Prince. Seemed legit...................😆
To: Red Badger
I’ve heard the scammers mislead them into thinking it was the contractor requesting payment that was due.
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
time to send in nick shirley
How can they be that stupid? If you really are, you have no business in that position and if not, you are a partner in crime.
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
gotta remember that the average IQ of a somalian is 70
so what does that tell you?
Or maybe the Somalians are operating in Mobile. You can always trust them, especially when someone named “Ilhan Abdullahi Omar” has her hand out.
It might have been the wad of cash passed to them under the table that sealed the deal.
System alarm in fail mode.
Who knew
“System alarm in fail mode”
**************
Yes, scams and fraud have become an industry.
I’m a big fan of the lump-sum payouts.
Sounds right out of the show “Ozarks”
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