A client who commissioned a builder to construct a new home in rural Fife has been conned out of more than £45,000, police have revealed.
Officers have issued a security warning to businesses following the shocking incident, which took place on Wednesday June 6.
The high-value fraud was committed after a building firm was asked by a client in the Cupar area to build a new property locally, with payment for the work being provided upon receipt of invoices.
The clients later received an email, purportedly from the builder email account, providing new account details into which the outstanding balance of the invoice should be transferred.
More than £45,000 in cash was transferred to the new account but, after the builder confirmed he had not received payment or sent any email with amended bank details, police were contacted.
Sergeant Stuart Hay, of Cupar Police Station, said investigations have since established the genuine email address was hacked and others are now being urged to ensure they have appropriate web security in place.
Anyone with information can contact Police Scotland via 101 and quote incident number 712 of the June 6.
Alternatively, an anonymous report can be made to the charity Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.
