NEWPORT, Wash. – Approximately $330,000 in Newport city funds have been wrongly transferred due to a “fraudulent web-based scheme,” city officials announced on Thursday.
Law enforcement has been alerted, and an investigation is underway. Mayor Keith Cambell addressed the incident in a press release.
“This is a deeply concerning situation,” Cambell said. “We recognize this could represent a significant loss of taxpayer dollars. We take our responsibility to safeguard public funds extremely seriously.”
Preliminary findings suggest the funds were lost through a “sophisticated online scam.” City officials noted that no evidence has been found indicating that the personal information of Newport residents had been compromised. The incident was reportedly limited to “municipal financial transactions.”
After reporting the issue to law enforcement, city officials launched a comprehensive review of internal financial controls, policies and procedures. They also plan to enhance safeguards for electronic payments and vendor verification processes.
While updates will be provided as more information becomes available, city officials emphasized their commitment to maintaining the investigation’s integrity.
