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SALT LAKE CITY (AP) — A state audit has revealed that Emery and San Juan counties handed over nearly $87,000 to scammers who posed as county commissioners earlier this year.
The findings from the report released Tuesday have prompted a warming from the Utah auditor's office to public agencies across the state that they could also be targeted.
According to the report, Emery County Treasurer Steven Barton had received an email in June that appeared to be from the county commissioner requesting a wire transfer. The report states that Barton fell victim to a scam known as "spear phishing" and sent nearly $39,000 to a fake consultant in Florida.
San Juan County lost $48,000 in a similar scheme.
Utah Auditor John Dougall says treasurers in both counties realized their mistakes the following day and alerted other county officials.
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