FBI and United States Attorney’s Office for the District of North Dakota recover millions linked to cyber fraud targeting school district

Bismarck, North Dakota – Federal authorities in North Dakota have seized nearly $4.9 million that investigators say was fraudulently stolen from Dickinson Public Schools during a sophisticated business email compromise scheme, marking a major development in an ongoing cyber fraud investigation.

According to an announcement made April 30, 2026, by U.S. Attorney Nicholas W. Chase, the United States Attorney’s Office for the District of North Dakota worked alongside the Federal Bureau of Investigation to trace and seize $4,856,578.51 connected to the fraud.

Officials stated that investigators followed the stolen funds to a Citibank account after Dickinson Public Schools became the victim of a business email compromise scam. These schemes typically involve cybercriminals impersonating trusted individuals or organizations in order to trick victims into transferring money or sensitive information.

Court filings connected to civil case number 1:26-cv-008 show that federal prosecutors filed a civil forfeiture complaint on March 27, 2026, and obtained a federal Warrant of Arrest in Rem to seize the money held in the account.

Authorities said the effort moved forward successfully on April 22, when Citibank provided a check totaling $4,856,578.51 to the United States Marshals Service. Officials said the funds represented money fraudulently obtained from Dickinson Public Schools.

Federal officials working to return funds to school district

The United States Attorney’s Office explained that the civil forfeiture case remains ongoing. Prosecutors are seeking a final judgment that would officially forfeit the funds before requesting approval from the Department of Justice to return the money to Dickinson Public Schools.

“The United States Attorney’s Office is pursuing this ongoing civil forfeiture lawsuit with the ultimate goal of remitting the seized $4,856,578.51 to victims in accordance with Department of Justice policy,” said U.S. Attorney Nick Chase.

For now, the seized funds will remain in the custody of the United States Marshals Service until the District Court issues a final order deciding how the money will be distributed.

Officials did not provide a timeline for when the case could be finalized, though prosecutors said they are working toward a quick resolution.

Federal investigators also emphasized that the criminal side of the investigation remains active. Authorities confirmed that law enforcement agencies are continuing to investigate the people responsible for the fraud scheme, but additional details are not being released at this time.

The case is being investigated by the FBI, the United States Marshals Service, and the Dickinson Police Department.

Authorities warn public about growing email fraud schemes

Alongside the announcement, federal prosecutors issued a warning to businesses, schools, and residents about the increasing threat posed by business email compromise scams.

Assistant United States Attorneys Jonathan J. O’Konek and Matthew D. Greenley explained that scammers often succeed by creating urgency and convincing victims to act quickly without verifying information.

“Scammers are successful by relying on time and distance. They attempt to make you act quickly by presenting false or frightening consequences and they can effectively impersonate others by the distance of the internet,” the prosecutors warned.

Officials urged people to pause whenever they receive emails requesting changes to payment methods, updated wiring instructions, or sensitive business information. Prosecutors stressed that a simple phone call to confirm instructions with a supervisor, banker, or business partner can prevent major losses.

“Do not allow scammers to use time and distance to make you act quickly,” they added. “Instead, take a moment to review the email, look for irregularities, and check that the email address is from the person with whom you previously worked. If an email looks suspicious, it most likely is.”

Authorities encouraged the public to review scam prevention materials available through the FBI’s Internet Crime Complaint Center, which regularly issues alerts regarding online fraud and impersonation schemes.

Federal officials say the seizure demonstrates the growing effort by law enforcement agencies to track stolen funds and recover money for victims, even in highly complex cyber fraud cases involving large financial transactions and sophisticated deception tactics.