Ministry issued payment for huge fake invoice – disciplinary action against several officials
Education Ministry pays €300,000 to scammers
The Education Ministry paid €300,000 to scammers posing as an IT services provider.
Sources told the Times of Malta that hackers issued a fake invoice for services a UK company actually provided. Hyland Software UK Ltd has an agreement with the ministry for blockchain-based storage of official records.
Ministry staff realised that they had been scammed when the actual invoice was received through the usual channels. A third party is suspected to have hacked the British company’s account and requested payment.
Disciplinary action was being taken against the staffers who had committed the mistake, a spokesperson said. Permanent Secretary Matthew Vella issued charges for disciplinary action against a number of officials, he added.
The ministry said it is in continuous contact with the financial crime unit in its international investigations.
