Iowa county is missing $524,284 after employee transferred it in response to fake email

DUBUQUE, Iowa (AP) — Officials in one eastern Iowa county are trying to track down $524,284 they believe was stolen when an employee transferred it in response to a fake email message that appeared to be from the city of Dyersville. It became clear the money was missing when Dyersville officials asked about the status of the transfer after the county had already made it. Auditor Kevin Dragotto said in a statement that an internal review determined that the city of Dyersville’s email system had been compromised. A county employee sent the payment in response to what appeared to be an official email. But Dragotto says officials now believe that invoice was “orchestrated by a third party.”