Puerto Rico government falls for phishing scam, loses $2.6 million

Apparently, anyone can fall for a phishing scam, not just the elderly or those who are not web-savvy.

Government workers in Puerto Rico admitted that someone at the Industrial Development Company, a government agency, transferred more than $2.6 million after the group received an email that claimed there were changes to a bank account that is used for remittance payments, police said, according to The Associated Press.

Manuel Laboy, the agency’s executive director, said as soon as the scam was discovered, they contacted the FBI, the AP reported.

No information has been given on how they found out about the phishing attempt, or if anyone has been fired, but an internal investigation has begun and they’re trying to get the money back, the AP reported.

The U.S. territory has been in a 13-year recession, the AP reported.

The territory, just this week, came to an agreement with creditors as it tries to reverse its $129 billion debt, The New York Times reported. The plan requires the approval of the island’s legislature.

The board overseeing Puerto Rico’s bankruptcy, which it entered in 2017, said the government may be out of bankruptcy by the end of the year, Reuters reported.

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