A Fake Email Redirected $113,050 Into His Business Account, Then Nearly All the Money Was Gone in Hours

A North Dakota man is facing federal fraud charges after prosecutors say a nearly identical email address redirected $113,050 owed to an art dealer into his business bank account. The money came from an auction business in Asheville, North Carolina, that had sold furniture, silver and historical artifacts for an 80-year-old art dealer. The federal indictment accuses Oleko of participating in and aiding and abetting the business email compromise scheme. The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of North Dakota says he participated in and aided and abetted a business email compromise that allegedly defrauded the auction business of $113,050. Verify New Wire Instructions Outside the Email ConversationThe FBI’s business email compromise guidance recommends independently confirming payment requests and scrutinizing email addresses carefully.