Slovak state organisation falls for scam email; sends €459,555 to fraudster

The National Crime Agency (NAKA) has launched an investigation into a case involving the Education Ministry-run Pedagogical Methodology Centre (MPC) sending €459,555 to a fraudster based on a fake e-mail, Education, Science, Research and Sport Minister Juraj Draxler announced on Tuesday. In late June, the MPC received an e-mail - allegedly from one of its suppliers, with its representative claiming that the entity had changed its banking account. After the MPC paid invoices to the company totalling €459,555 last week, it emerged that the supplier had not changed its banking account and the e-mail was fraudulent. MPC director Danka Kapucianová last week conceded that her organisation has made a mistake. According to the contract between MPC and the supplier, any change in the supplying conditions requires a supplement to the contract. No supplement was signed in this case, however, said Kapucianová. Draxler announced that the MPC's chief economist, who received the e-mail and forwarded it to all relevant people in order to change the account, has already been dismissed from his post. Nevertheless, he has been retained at the organisation as an ordinary employee. For the time being, Kapucianová has remained in the position of director. "She has my trust at the moment", said Draxler. The minister noted that the MPC shouldn't lose the money, as its bank has held back the amount.