Supervalu Victim of $10M Wire Fraud Scam
EDEN PRAIRIE, Minn. -- Supervalu lost approximately $10 million after wiring money to fraudulent bank accounts set up by scammers claiming to be employees of American Greetings Corp. and Frito-Lay.
According to published reports, the fraud began when the grocer received two e-mails -- one from someone claiming to be an American Greetings employee and another claiming to be with Frito-Lay – saying that the companies wanted payments sent to new bank account numbers.
Supervalu sent more than $6.5 million to the fake American Greetings account and nearly $3.6 million to the fake Frito-Lay account before realizing they were fraudulent. While the FBI was able to intercept the money before it was taken by the scammers, American Greetings, Frito-Lay, and Supervalu have all laid claim to the money and U.S. District Judge B. Lynn Winmill will decide where it should go.
According to published reports, the fraud began when the grocer received two e-mails -- one from someone claiming to be an American Greetings employee and another claiming to be with Frito-Lay – saying that the companies wanted payments sent to new bank account numbers.
Supervalu sent more than $6.5 million to the fake American Greetings account and nearly $3.6 million to the fake Frito-Lay account before realizing they were fraudulent. While the FBI was able to intercept the money before it was taken by the scammers, American Greetings, Frito-Lay, and Supervalu have all laid claim to the money and U.S. District Judge B. Lynn Winmill will decide where it should go.