City of East Point was the victim of a million dollar email scam, city says

FULTON COUNTY, Ga. — A local city is out a lot of money tonight, and they may not get it back.

Channel 2 Action News has learned that the city of East Point paid out more than $1.2 million to fictitious vendors.

Channel 2 Investigative Reporter Mark Winne just spoke with the former mayor to find out what’s going on.

A document Channel 2 obtained from the city through channels raises plenty of questions about how East Point has kept tabs on its money.

The document calls into question where exactly the amount of money eclipsing $1 million went.

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The document pertains to an audit for the fiscal year 2021 and suggests that four invoices were sent ‘for professional services/other services for an amount of $1,219,287. None of these invoices were recorded in the accounting system but were somehow approved by the finance and accounting department.’

While the invoices were real, the payments were made to fictitious vendors.

Former Mayor Ernestine Pittman says she put the audit document on her website.

“The residents of the city of East Point need to know where our money is going or not going,” Pittman said.

An East Point Police report said the city of East Point was the victim of an email hack scheme.

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Eventually, the city was able to recoup $434,197 of the loss from after filing for and having the money seized.

However, this still leaves the city with a remaining loss of $785,090.

East Point Police Chief Shawn Buchanan said his department is working with the FBI out of New Jersey regarding the email hack and missing money.

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