HORRY COUNTY, SC (WMBF) – Thursday, Surfside Beach is out nearly $545,000 after a scam targeted a city construction payment, redirecting funds to a fraudulent account.
The city had hired Wildcat Construction for an underground utility project. In March, a payment intended for the company was sent to a fraudulent account instead.
Red flags identified
City Councilmember John Hiyatt said there were red flags the city should have caught before sending the money. The email used to request payment contained extra letters in the address, and the phone number carried a Los Angeles area code.
Finance Director Melanie Freeman-Gruber said the emails appeared to come from Wildcat Construction’s official account.
Investigations underway
Multiple agencies are now investigating. The city’s internet provider found no evidence that its email system was hacked. The South Carolina Law Enforcement Division is investigating the case as fraud…