Fresno Unified School District announced that they were recently the target of check fraud.

The fraud consisted of attempts to cash unauthorized checks from FUSD to one of its vendors.

After FUSD discovered the fraud, the Department of Homeland Security reached out to confirm that the fraud was part of a larger check fraud ring.

Several checks amounting to $7 million were fraudulently attempted. About $4 million in funds were prevented from being lost. Some of the stolen funds have been recovered, and it is expected that all remaining funds will be fully recovered in due time.

FUSD has investigated internally, revisiting their controls and processes to keep up with constantly changing landscape of fraud.

FUSD notes that while the County of Fresno is a signatory on the checks, it had no involvement in the fraud and bears no responsibility for the actions that took place.

The county assisted the district since the investigation began to ensure the potential recovery of funds.