The Dubuque County Auditor’s Office has implemented new policies regarding money wire transfers between the county and fund recipients following the alleged theft of more than $524,000 in public funds. The new policies are being implemented in response to $524,283.88 in missing federal American Rescue Plan Act money the county attempted to send to the city of Dyersville, Iowa, in early December. The funds were sent via an automated clearing house transaction from the county but are believed to have been intercepted by a third party and never made it to the city of Dyersville. Officials previously said Dyersville’s municipal email system had been compromised prior to the transfer.
For an entity to receive money via a wire transfer from the county, the recipient must fill out an application and a voided check and send the items back to the auditor’s office. Per auditor’s office protocol at the time of the ACH transfer to Dyersville, an automated confirmation email is sent to the intended recipient three days ahead of the money. Going forward, any time the auditor’s office receives an ACH application or changes to a recipient’s banking information, an auditor’s office employee will call for voice verification.
