WINONA, Minn. – An accountant for Behrens Manufacturing sent $53,000 to one of the company’s regular suppliers before realizing it was a scam. The loss was the largest in Winona in memory. Police were told the employee received a message purporting to be from a regular vendor in Mexico to send further payments to a new bank account, including $53,000 presently due. A routing number was provided. The employee did so. Then came a follow-up request for a further payment. The Behrens employee noted this time that he email address on both messages had one errant character – different from the vendor’s usual address. Suspecting something amiss, the employee alerted management. Police were called about 2 p.m.
Behrens profile. Behrens is an old-line Winona company dating to 1911. It is known for galvanized steel buckets and containers. Offices at 1250 East Sanborn Street.