Oregon Man Charged In Connection To Business Email Compromise Scam In Norwalk: Police

NORWALK, CT — An Oregon man was charged this week in connection to a business email compromise scam involving a company in Norwalk, according to the Norwalk Police Department.

In a news release, Police Lt. Tomasz Podgorski said the department began a financial crimes investigation in October involving a company that was the victim of a business email compromise scam.

According to Podgorski, the scam "caused changes in bank wiring instructions and the diversion of a large sum of money to a bank in Washington rather than to the contractor's bank account."

Podgorski said Matthew Patterson, 37, of Hermiston, Ore., was identified as a suspect following a lengthy investigation that involved multiple search and seizure warrants and working closely with the contractor and multiple banks.

According to Podgorski, the majority of the funds were frozen, seized and returned.

An arrest warrant was obtained for Patterson, who had multiple addresses around the country, as well as an Oregon driver's license, according to Podgorski.

Patterson was found in upstate New York and extradited to Connecticut by Norwalk detectives Tuesday, Podgorski said.

Patterson was charged with first-degree larceny, first-degree computer crime and second-degree forgery.

Patterson's bond was set at $500,000 and he is scheduled to appear in court next month, according to Podgorski.