NAPA COUNTY, Calif. (KGO) — We’re learning more about a growing crisis at the Napa County Tax Collector’s Office, where more than 60 property tax checks have been reported lost or stolen.
The checks are being stolen and altered through a type of fraud called “check washing.” It’s a story we first brought you Thursday. More victims are now coming forward.
“It’s one of the largest checks we write throughout the year,” said Jen Wilkinson.
Jen Wilkinson at Vineyard 29 in St. Helena, didn’t think twice when she mailed in the winery’s property tax payment for $206,000. A short time later, she made a terrible discovery.
“It did not make it to the tax collector,” said Jen Wilkinson.
PREVIOUS STORY: Dozens of property tax checks in Napa Co. were stolen through mail, officials say
The check was cashed, not by the Napa County Tax Collector, but by a business in St. Cloud, Florida. The vineyard’s tax…
Inspect the sender’s actual email address—not just the display name—for subtle misspellings like “info@paypa1.com” or “support@nmb-bank.co” which indicate a spoofing attempt.