NORWALK, CT — Police have arrested a man in connection with a business email compromise scam that diverted a large sum of money from a local company.
The Norwalk Police Department Detective Bureau began investigating the financial crimes case in October after a company reported falling victim to the scam.
The scam altered bank wiring instructions, causing funds intended for a contractor to be diverted to a bank in Washington.
Through a lengthy investigation involving multiple search and seizure warrants and cooperation with the contractor and several banks, detectives identified Matthew Patterson, 37, of Hermiston, Oregon, as a suspect.
The majority of the funds were frozen, seized and returned to the victim.
Detectives obtained an arrest warrant for Patterson, who had multiple addresses around the country and an Oregon driver’s license.
Patterson was located in upstate New York and extradited to Connecticut by Norwalk detectives on March 17.
He is charged with larceny in the first degree, computer crime in the first degree and forgery in the second degree.
Patterson is being held on $500,000 bond and is scheduled to appear in court on April 2.
Anyone with information is asked to call the Norwalk Police Tip Line at 203-854-3111.
Anonymous internet tips can be sent through the Norwalk Police website at www.norwalkpd.com.
Anonymous text tips can be submitted by typing “NORWALKPD” into the text field, followed by the message, and sending it to TIP411 (847411).
