A September email phishing attack in which online thieves stole paychecks from 27 Atlanta Public Schools employees will cost the district roughly $300,000.
Online scammers tricked unsuspecting employees into clicking on a fake link that allowed thieves to access payroll login information and reroute direct deposits. The district immediately announced it would repay employees for the stolen paychecks, which cost the district $56,459.
As part of its response to the attack, APS spent $150,000 for a one-time “forensic investigation” done in coordination with law enforcement to review the breach, according to a district spokesman. The district also will spend $32,653 a year for three years on a contact with Wombat Security Technologies to educate staff and students about cyber security.
Cyber thieves also attacked Fulton County Schools in August by rerouting roughly $75,000 in paycheck funds from 46 employees.
For more about how APS, Fulton, and other metro Atlanta school districts are boosting cyber security and protecting employee and student data, visit MyAJC.com.