Chinese-Based Network Possibly Behind $2M Online Theft From Farmington

A network based in China is believed to be behind the theft of a $2 million online payment that Farmington made last fall to a Torrington company for a major town project, police and town officials said Tuesday.

Local and federal law enforcement officials are investigating the theft and believe other towns and cities might have been victims of the fraudulent scheme.

The $2.04 million payment was made in September to Torrington-based C.H. Nickerson & Co. Inc., the general contractor hired to make $57 million in upgrades to the town's wastewater treatment facility.

Town officials first noticed something was amiss on Oct. 31, when the payment had still not been received via the Automated Clearing House system, Farmington police Chief Paul Melanson said.

Read more: http://www.courant.com/community/farmington/hc-farmington-fraud-scheme-0118-20170117-story.html