CHESTERLAND, Ohio — A cybercrime wave targeting government agencies has resulted in Northeast Ohio cities, counties, schools and more paying fraudsters more than $4 million since 2023.

The scheme, known as payment redirect fraud, involves thieves tricking government employees into sending payments to criminally controlled bank accounts rather than to the rightful recipients.

“It’s the world we live in today,” said Karen Pavlat, treasurer and chief financial officer of the West Geauga Board of Education. “Our businesses are run on the internet, and we have access to that, just like the fraudsters do as well.”

According to records from the Ohio Auditor of State’s Office, the West Geauga School District is among 15 governmental agencies in Northeast Ohio that have been hit by payment redir

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