Town says normal procedures were followed; state and insurance reviews underway
By BC News Staff Writer
Surfside Beach officials say a $545,000 payment intended for a pier contractor was misdirected to a fraudulent account, prompting parallel investigations by state authorities, the town’s insurance carrier, and an independent forensic firm.
According to town leadership, the payment was meant for Wildcat Contractors as part of ongoing pier construction work. The town reports that the funds were diverted after an outside party impersonated the contractor through email, resulting in a fraudulent change‑of‑payment request.
Mayor Robert Krouse stated that the town’s internal processes were followed and that no evidence has been found indicating a breach of municipal systems. Officials say the incident appears consistent with a business email compromise, a type of cybercrime in which attackers intercept or mimic legitimate communications between organizations.
The South Carolina Law Enforcement Division is reviewing the matter, and the town’s insurance provider is conducting its own assessment to determine coverage and liability. Town officials say they are also working with the bank involved in the transaction to trace the funds.
At this stage, the responsibility for the misdirected payment has not yet been assigned. The town says it will release additional information once investigative agencies complete their reviews.
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