Investigation underway after county scammed of over $100k in tax dollars

WARREN, Ohio (WKBN) – The Trumbull County Sheriff’s Office has contacted the FBI to assist in an investigation where more than $100,000 in tax dollars were transferred to a fraudulent bank account posing as Bazetta Township.

According to a report from the Sheriff’s Office, Bazetta’s fiscal officer reported on September 3, that the township had been waiting on transactions from the county Auditor’s Office and had not received it. The township’s fiscal officer found emails dating back to August 9 from an unknown sender instructing an auditor’s office employee that the township’s bank account had changed and provided a new account number. The unknown sender successfully intercepted eight transactions from the auditor’s office made out to Bazetta Township for a total of $160,857.18.

“On face value, from what we’re looking at, this absolutely appears like a scam that was pulled on Trumbull County,” said Trumbull County Sheriff Paul Monroe.

He said the scam is not new, but it is on a larger scale than they’re used to seeing.

“On September 3, 2024, my office became aware of irregularities with emails received by my office,” Trumbull County Auditor Martha Yoder said in a statement to First News. “The matter is now under investigation by law enforcement, and I cannot comment further due to the pending investigation.”

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