MSBA warns districts of banking information requests from ‘fraudulent entities’

The Massachusetts School Building Authority is warning school districts of the potential for fraudulent requests to update banking and/or finance information.
 
The MSBA advises districts to use caution if they are being contacted by any consultants, contractors or vendors regarding payment instructions for services delivered related to an MSBA project and to ensure that such requests are from a legitimate party representing the consultant, contractor or vendor.
 
Over the past few months, the MSBA reports, there have been a few instances where districts with an active school project with the MSBA “have been contacted by a purported entity claiming to be a certain contractor for school projects.”
 
“Those fraudulent entities have contacted the districts by phone and email,” the MSBA said in an Aug. 12 memo to districts. “The notification states that they are updating their payment instructions and have sent a signed letter on what looks like the legitimate contractor’s company letterhead listing “updated” payment instructions.
 
The MSBA said it will also be taking steps to confirm banking information from districts regarding the payment of grants for the Capital Pipeline, Waiting List Annual, and Prior Grant payments.
 
For more information, contact MSBA Treasurer Gianpiero Tirella at Gianpiero.Tirella@MassSchoolBuildings.org or (617) 720-4466.