Bank employee foils attempted fraud

AUSTINTOWN — Police say an employee at the Austintown branch of Sky Bank foiled an attempted fraud of $15,100 from St. Joseph Church on New Road by checking with the church before removing the money from the bank’s account.

The bank’s West Middlesex branch received a fax from an unknown account in Japan on Feb. 8 requesting the bank wire $15,100 to the company from the church’s bank account, a police report said.

The West Middlesex bank forwarded the fax to the Austintown branch.

A bank employee checked with Deacon Michael R. Roberts of the church, who said the signature on the fax, purportedly giving permission for the transfer, was fraudulent.