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The City of Fullerton released the following statement Wednesday morning:
The City of Fullerton announced that it fell victim to a sophisticated wire fraud scheme.
Believing that the City was paying one of its contractors, the City wired funds in the amount of $174,086.55. Law enforcement was contacted immediately upon discovering the fraudulent activity.
Reports were promptly filed with local authorities, the Nebraska State Patrol, and the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI). The City is fully cooperating with these agencies as they conduct a thorough investigation. The City is deeply disappointed by this incident, but is actively working alongside investigators to recover the funds.
While the broader investigation remains pending, a significant break in the case has occurred. Law enforcement has arrested a female suspect connected to the fraud. She has since been extradited to North Dakota, where she faces similar charges related to wire theft. It is believed that several other individuals were involved in these fraudulent activities.
To protect the integrity of the ongoing multi-jurisdictional investigation, the City cannot release further details regarding the incident at this time.
The City has already begun implementing additional heightened security measures and financial controls to prevent future incidents. Further updates will be provided as they become available and as permitted by law enforcement.