A Pennsylvania parts supplier has lost more than $50,000 after a mailed payment was intercepted, altered and cashed in Nevada.
The $50,232 check from American Hardware was meant for a Georgia supplier but later showed a new payee and was cashed in Las Vegas, reports the Observer-Reporter.
Court papers say Cassandra A. Medina, 33, faces felony charges including identity theft and using an access device without authorization after the payee line was changed from Jones Stephens Corporation to her name.
Investigators say she made multiple wire transfers after
Investigators say she made multiple wire transfers after cashing the check, and no other people have been charged so far.
Kevin Blum, vice president of sales at American Hardware, says insurance paid only $15,000 before dropping the company, and the loss has strained purchasing and payroll.
“It really hurt our business… It takes a toll on our purchasing (ability). Something like that is a big hit. I’m scraping for payroll. It hurts all the way around.”
An earlier try this year changed a $35
An earlier try this year changed a $35 check to $3,500, but the firm’s accountant caught it and canceled the item in time.
The company has since switched to electronic bank transfers for supplier payments despite the higher cost.
