FBI investigating Oak Bluffs cyber scam

Updated Sept. 6

Town officials in Oak Bluffs are saying that town records and information do not appear to have been compromised in the cyber scam that the FBI and local police are investigating. 

Oak Bluffs town administrator Deborah Potter also said that there was a wire transfer of funds associated with the cyber scam, although she did not say how much. 

“Oak Bluffs became aware of a cyber scam event on August 16, regarding a wire transfer of funds,” Potter said in a Friday afternoon email. “When the issue was identified, the town immediately took action to ascertain any impacts and mitigate the damage. It does not appear that the issue originated within the town, that town records or information have been compromised, or that any town infrastructure has been impacted. 

“Again, we are working with local police, the FBI, and others to resolve the situation to the best of our abilities, and cannot comment further as the investigation is ongoing,” Potter said.

Town officials in Oak Bluffs first confirmed that they had been hit with a cyber scam on Thursday, noting that the FBI was investigating. 

Details are limited, including who was behind the scam, but the town is working with a number of agencies to resolve the issue.

Oak Bluffs Police Lt. Nicholas Currelli and Potter both declined to provide further details when a Times reporter met them at the police station and town hall, respectively, on Thursday, saying the federal investigation is ongoing. 

Oak Bluffs Police Chief Jonathan Searle said a detective with the department is working with the FBI on the cyber scam case. Searle said his department was notified about the incident on August 16, but declined to delve into further details of the case.

Oak Bluffs isn’t the only local municipality to be hit by cyber crimes recently. The Provincetown Independent reported last week that an audit revealed Wellfleet nearly lost $1 million to an email scam in 2023. The Steamship Authority was a victim of a still-unsolved ransomware attack in 2021. 

Updated with additional information from Oak Bluffs town administrator Deborah Potter.