Warren County Treasurer's Office mistakenly sends $3.3M in phishing scam

Warren County, NY (WRGB) — Multiple local, state, and federal investigations are underway after Warren County officials determined the county was the victim of a financial crime involving a fraudulent phishing scheme.

According to county officials, two electronic payments totaling $3.3 million were mistakenly sent from the Warren County Treasurer’s Office to a fraudulent bank account earlier this month. The first payment, totaling $2.1 million, was transmitted on December 12, 2025, followed by a second payment of $1.2 million on December 22, 2025.

Investigators have since informed the county that the $1.2 million payment is expected to be recovered and returned to the Treasurer’s Office. County officials say efforts are also underway to recover additional funds from the initial $2.1 million transfer, though recovery is not yet guaranteed.

After discovering the fraudulent transactions on December 23, Warren County officials contacted the Warren County Sheriff’s Office, New York State Police, and the U.S. Department of Justice to investigate the incident and assist in recovery efforts.

The New York State Comptroller’s Office of Local Government is also conducting a separate investigation into the matter.