The Tallahassee Police Department and the United States Secret Service are investigating after more than $1 million was stolen from city funds.
In a news release, the TPD revealed that the money was taken by an outside source posing as a city vendor. The department's Financial Crimes Unit received a report from the city about the crime Thursday.
"TPD takes any allegations of fraudulent activity seriously and will work tirelessly to investigate them thoroughly. Detectives are working diligently with the Secret Service to recover the City’s funds and ensure justice is secured in this case," the statement reads.
A similar phishing fraud incident also happened to the City of Fort Lauderdale in 2023, but the money lost was recovered this year.
This isn’t the first time the city has been the victim of cybercrime. In 2019, $500,000 was stolen from the city’s payroll in a cybercrime, according to the Tallahassee Democrat. Most of that money was eventually recovered.
Tallahassee spokesperson Alison Faris said the city is thankful for the efforts of law enforcement.
"The City is appreciative of the diligent efforts of the Tallahassee Police Department and United States Secret Service to bring resolution to this cybercrime incident as quickly as possible," she said.