RIO BLANCO COUNTY, Colo. — A "significant portion" of a $4 million grant to help with a water project in western Colorado was lost in an apparent wire transfer fraud scam, Rio Blanco County said.
The county said on April 12, the Board of County Commissioners awarded a $4 million grant to the Rio Blanco Water Conservancy District to help facilitate the White River Regional Water Supply Project, also known as the Wolf Creek Reservoir Project.
The grant money came from the County Capital Improvement Trust Fund.
The county said the money was given to the water district in a one-time lump sum payment and was to be kept separate from the district's other money.
Recently, the county said, commissioners were informed that "a significant portion" of the funds "were lost in an apparent wire transfer fraud scam perpetrated against the Rio Blanco Water Conservancy District."
The FBI and the banks involved are investigating the matter, the county said.
It's unclear exactly how much money was lost, or when the scam occurred. The county said they're not releasing any more information to avoid interfering with the investigation.
"The FBI cannot comment on specific incidents, but I can say that FBI Denver routinely advises both public and private-sector organizations and businesses about scams and threats," the FBI said in a statement. "We work with our state, federal and local partners to identify, pursue and defeat fraudsters and cyber criminals. If victims believe they have experienced a cyber intrusion, crime or scam, we encourage them to notify us so we can investigate. The public should be assured the FBI takes scams seriously."
SUGGESTED VIDEOS: Latest from 9NEWS