BPUB Confirms Authorities Investigating Payment Fraud

BROWNSVILLE, TX – The Brownsville Public Utilities Board (BPUB) confirms that authorities are investigating a scam involving the payment of approximately $1.3 million.

BPUB received a request from Noble Construction, a vendor currently working on a project for BPUB, to change Noble’s bank account information. BPUB made a payment to the updated account after receiving an invoice. The afternoon the deposit was made, Noble Construction advised BPUB that the request to change bank accounts was a forgery.

Upon discovering the fraud, BPUB reported the issue to the FBI and Brownsville Police Department and made immediate efforts to stop payment through the bank. BPUB continues to work with authorities and the fraud units from the two banks involved to find out what happened and to try to recover the funds. In addition, BPUB’s cybersecurity insurance provider is investigating the incident.

BPUB will continue to work with authorities until this matter is settled but otherwise won’t comment an open investigation.