Cyber Theft of $200,000 from Gregg County

LONGVIEW (AP) – An East Texas county has halted electronic fund transfers after cyber hackers believed to be in Russia allegedly stole $200,000 in tax-related funds. The Longview News-Journal reported Tuesday that Gregg County, state and federal authorities are investigating. Tax assessor/collector Kirk Shields said Monday that local tax payments destined for schools and cities were hijacked. Shields says confirmation of Nov. 23 theft, discovered in progress and traced to a website in Moscow, has led to changes in the county’s method for moving funds. Thieves use malicious software, known as malware, to infect the computers of unsuspecting users by e-mail. Shields says a county employee who mistakenly unleashed the virus has been suspended for violating cyber-security policy. Efforts continue to retrieve the funds and identify the hackers.