Cody airport loses money in email scam

CODY (WNE) — Yellowstone Regional Airport has fallen victim to cybertheft.

Heidi Rasmussen, YRA board member, revealed during a board meeting on Oct. 14, that a wire transfer for $7,829.67 was mistakenly sent to a fraudulent requester posing as the job-hiring firm the airport recently hired.

Rasmussen said this encompassed about the first 40% of payment to Florida-based ADK Consulting and Executive Search. She said it was four days before it was discovered the money had been wired to a fraudulent account.

She said the bank was able to recoup $450 of this loss.

Ray Lee, airport interim director, said ADK is pursuing the crime with law enforcement agencies in their jurisdiction and have locked down a potential suspect.

In September, YRA decided it would pay ADK around $22,000 to help the airport find a new director.

Rasmussen said the airport will consider cybersecurity insurance moving forward, which she said can cost around $4,400 per year.