School district loses $2.3 million in email phishing scam, Texas police say

Investigators are trying to figure out who stole millions from a Texas school district in an email phishing scam.

The scam cost Manor Independent School District in Manor, Texas, about $2.3 million, according to a news release. The FBI is helping investigate.

Police say they have “strong leads” in the phishing case.

“This investigation is still ongoing and although there are strong leads in the case we are still encouraging anyone with information to contact (the police),” the school district posted on Facebook.

The money was sent to the scammer in three transactions, KSAT reported. The person who paid the money didn’t realize the account was changed to a fake bank, the San Antonio TV station reported.

It’s still unclear whether the school district will get back the money, KVUE reported.

Manor Police Department detective Anne Lopez said this big of a scam in a school district is rare, KVUE reported.

“Scams are unbiased,” she told KVUE. “They reach anyone anywhere any time.”

According to the Federal Trade Commission, phishing scammers “use email or text messages to trick you into giving them your personal information.”

The phony emails or texts can appear to be from a known company such as a bank, a credit card company or social media site and “trick” you into opening a link or attachment to gain access, according to the FTC.

Here’s the full press release from the school district.

This story was originally published January 13, 2020 at 11:50 AM with the headline "School district loses $2.3 million in email phishing scam, Texas police say."