SCRANTON — The Lackawanna County district attorney’s office is trying to find out who impersonated Commissioner Jim Wansacz in sending two emails requesting the controller’s office transfer about $22,600 in county money to an Australian bank account.
Controller Gary DiBileo and Deputy Controller Germaine Helcoski were immediately suspicious when they got the messages, which initially appeared to come from Mr. Wansacz’s county email address but did not follow regular purchasing procedures.
The county’s information technology department traced the Thursday emails back to a hosting company in Toronto, Assistant District Attorney Gene Talerico said.
Mr. Talerico praised the controller’s office for catching it, and District Attorney Andy Jarbola said the incident is a good reminder to the public to always be leery when people send emails asking for money.
— KYLE WIND