COLUMBUS -- Cleveland Public Library transferred nearly $400,000 to a fictitious vendor after failing to adopt proper internal controls to detect payment redirect schemes, according to a financial audit made public Tuesday by Auditor of State Keith Faber’s office.

The incident, which took place in June 2024, was detailed in a management letter as part of an audit of the library’s finances from Jan. 1, 2024, through Dec. 31, 2024.

Auditors said the library changed bank payment information after receiving a request from someone pretending to be a legitimate vendor. A payment of $396,405 was eventually submitted to the fictitious account, the management letter stated.

Once discovered, auditors noted that the library’s finance department “immediately notified the appropriate parties,” and “

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