Posted on 02/12/2020 7:37:57 PM PST by TigerClaws
SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico (AP) — Puerto Rico’s government has lost more than $2.6 million after falling for an email phishing scam, according to a senior official.
The finance director of the island’s Industrial Development Company, Rubén Rivera, said in a complaint filed to police Wednesday that the agency sent the money to a fraudulent account.
Rivera said the government agency transferred the money on Jan. 17 after receiving an email that alleged a change to a banking account tied to remittance payments, according to a police statement.
Manuel Laboy, executive director of the agency, told The Associated Press that officials found out about the incident earlier this week and immediately reported it to the FBI.
“This is a very serious situation, extremely serious,” he said. “We want it to be investigated until the last consequences.”
Laboy declined to say how officials found out about the scam, whether anyone has been dismissed or how the company’s operations have been affected by the missing funds. He said an internal investigation is under way to determine whether someone was negligent or did not follow standard procedure, adding that government officials are trying to recover the money.
“I cannot speculate about how these things might happen,” he said, addressing heavy criticism from Puerto Ricans who were incredulous upon hearing the news.
Laboy added that his agency takes the management of public funds very seriously. “It’s a big responsibility.”
Police did not return calls for comment.
The situation comes as the U.S. territory remains mired in a 13-year recession that has in part forced the government to cut back on some services.
(Excerpt) Read more at apnews.com ...
Honest to goodness, I thought this was a Babylon Bee article when I read the headline.
Somebody going to porn sites?
Anybody get kick-backs?
AOC wants to give these folks _more_ money....
What a coincidence. Same day Cuomo was there.
And these are the same clowns who want statehood?
Almost certainly a cover story for having gotten caught stealing the money.
>>And these are the same clowns who want statehood?<<
I worked there this last year, during the height of the protests and all that.
Juan/Maria on the street do NOT want statehood. It is the least desirable option. They KNOW that had they been a state, all the fed $ would not have been there to help. These same people ALSO know that the fed $ has been hijacked by their corrupt officials. Even a 100% turnover in the government was unable to stop the corruption.
Drinks are on the government!
Can almost guarantee this was a cooperative inside job.
When hell freezes over or both areas turn bright Red and that bitch is working in a 7/11.
That’s probably $2.6 million American tax-payer money.
d":^)
Morons.
I didn’t know those Nigerian princes had started a bank.
Takes a special kind of moron to fall for a phishing scam. Apparently the PR government is full of them. I loved that big mouth PR mayor screeching about how the U.S. didn’t help them after the hurricane—and then they found $3 million worth of supplies rotting away in a warehouse. Why isn’t the PR government being held responsible for their own miserable failings instead of putting out their lazy irresponsible hands to US for handouts?
We can only hope they declare their independence soon.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.