BROOKLINE (WBZ-AM) -- The town of Brookline is breathing a sigh of relief after a near miss from cyber scammers who targeted the town's money.
Brookline's Town Administrator, Mel Kleckner, said in a statement to WBZ NewsRadio 1030 that the technique they used is known as a "business email compromise scam."
It began last month when the scammers sent an email that was designed to access money from the town treasury--but he said they didn't get any money.
That's because the FBI launched an investigation immediately after Brookline Treasurer Jeana Franconi was alerted to the scam.
"These agencies, and in particular the Brookline Police Detectives who are trained in responding to cyber scams and skilled assistance of FBI personnel, are credited for their prompt and effective action and preventing the loss of any Town funds," Kleckner wrote to WBZ.
The FBI, which won't comment about the ongoing investigation, said the business email compromise scam is one of the fastest-growing schemes of the past few years.
In an alert last year, the bureau's Boston division said losses attributed to similar scams totaled about $33 million.
Kleckner said several steps have been taken to ensure the town is fully prepared should a cyber attack like this happen in the future.
WBZ NewsRadio 1030's Ben Parker reports