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| Version 2 | Version 3 |
|---|---|
| Wirral Borough Council duped out of £46,000 | Wirral Borough Council duped out of £46,000 |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| Fraudsters duped a Merseyside council of almost £46,000, the authority says. | Fraudsters duped a Merseyside council of almost £46,000, the authority says. |
| Wirral Borough Council is investigating why payment-authorisation procedures were not followed before the payment was made, to an account apparently linked to a care home's email. | Wirral Borough Council is investigating why payment-authorisation procedures were not followed before the payment was made, to an account apparently linked to a care home's email. |
| After discovering it to be a fraudulent transaction, the council reported the matter to the national fraud team. The money has not been recovered. | After discovering it to be a fraudulent transaction, the council reported the matter to the national fraud team. The money has not been recovered. |
| The council said it was "unacceptable" proper checks had not been not made. | The council said it was "unacceptable" proper checks had not been not made. |
| However, it confirmed no-one had been suspended in connection with the payment. | However, it confirmed no-one had been suspended in connection with the payment. |
| 'Taking appropriate action' | 'Taking appropriate action' |
| In August, the council's finance department received an email from what appeared to be the correct address for the care home requesting the payment to be made into a different account. | In August, the council's finance department received an email from what appeared to be the correct address for the care home requesting the payment to be made into a different account. |
| Joe Blott, strategic director for transformation and resources, said: "Fraudsters targeted the council, which led to a payment of £45,683 being made to an incorrect account. | |
| "This was reported to the police as soon as we became aware of it and subsequently to Action Fraud. | "This was reported to the police as soon as we became aware of it and subsequently to Action Fraud. |
| "We have mandatory checks and procedures in place to prevent fraud and error. However, clearly on this occasion these were not followed. | "We have mandatory checks and procedures in place to prevent fraud and error. However, clearly on this occasion these were not followed. |
| "This is unacceptable and we will be taking appropriate action." | "This is unacceptable and we will be taking appropriate action." |