Sedgwick County DA warns of scam targeting local businesses.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
August 26, 2025

[WICHITA, KANSAS] – In an effort to raise awareness within the local business community, the Sedgwick County District Attorney’s Office is issuing a warning about a sophisticated wire transfer scam that recently led to a significant financial loss for a local company. The incident highlights the critical need for businesses to implement and enforce strict protocols for all wire transfers, regardless of whether the request appears legitimate.

The scam, which resulted in the loss of a substantial sum of money, involved a fraudulent wire transfer request sent from a compromised email account. Unlike typical phishing attempts where the sender's email address is clearly spoofed, this scam exploited a hacked business email account, making the request appear authentic. The company, believing the request was genuine, authorized the transfer, only discovering the fraud after the funds were sent.

This incident underscores the evolving tactics used by cybercriminals. While many businesses have protocols in place to check for suspicious email addresses, this new threat bypasses that security measure.

Recommended Actions for Businesses:

• Confirm All Requests: Do not rely solely on email for wire transfer approvals.  Always call the known, trusted contact at the company or bank to verbally verify the request before initiating any transfer.
• Establish Clear Protocols: Implement and strictly enforce a two-person approval process for all financial transactions, particularly for large sums.
• Educate Employees: Train employees to recognize the signs of a compromised account and to be skeptical of all financial requests, even those from trusted sources.

This incident serves as a reminder that even with seemingly secure digital communication, vigilance and human verification remain important lines of defense against financial fraud.