Terrebonne Parish Government Falls Victim to $129,000 Phishing Scam, Documents Reveal

Florida Woman Charged in $129,745 Phishing Scam Targeting Louisiana Government

A Florida woman has been charged with multiple crimes after a sophisticated phishing scam that resulted in the loss of over $129,745 from the Terrebonne Parish Government. The incident highlights the growing threat of cybercrime and the vulnerabilities that can arise within government agencies.

Linh Thuy Ngo, 56, faces charges including bank fraud, theft, computer fraud, and illegal transmission of monetary funds. According to Houma Police Chief Travis Theriot, Ngo scammed the government by impersonating an employee of the Louisiana Department of Transportation and Development (DOTD). The scam began on June 3, 2025, when a fraudulent email was sent to employees of the Terrebonne Parish Government.

The initial email, which appeared to come from someone named Carrie A. Wiebelt, included a request for information and a follow-up message asking for a wire transfer to a Florida bank account. The emails contained grammatical errors and were sent from an email address that appears to be linked to a former DOTD employee.

According to Robbie Lee, the Director of Communications for Terrebonne Parish, no emails were received on June 2. However, documents obtained by the Houma Courier reveal communications between government employees and individuals posing as two former DOTD employees. These emails were sent from the address Carrie.Wiebelt2@LAGOV.Online and included a phone number that is now disconnected.

One of the emails contained an invoice for a matching grant related to improvements on Valhi Boulevard. The document indicated that the Parish was set to match 10% of the project’s cost. Rodney Mallet, the DOTD Communications Director, confirmed that the invoice was an official document and that both Morvant and Wieblet had previously worked at DOTD.

Despite being a public record, the document was not obtained through a formal public records request. Lee noted that the Terrebonne Parish Government did not provide the document, and both officials are still investigating how the scammers acquired it.

How the Scam Unfolded

The employee who initially received the email was on vacation when the message arrived. The request was then forwarded to another employee in the Finance Department, who was new to the position. After the money was transferred, the involved employees contacted Kandace Mauldin, the Chief Finance Officer, who then alerted the Houma Police Department and Lee.

Theriot stated that his officers became involved on June 13 and traced the source of the scam to Ngo. She was arrested on August 28, and authorities managed to recover $97,482.06 of the stolen funds. However, the investigation is ongoing, as detectives suspect Ngo may have had assistance from others.

Steps to Prevent Future Scams

In response to the incident, the Terrebonne Parish Government has taken several measures to prevent similar occurrences in the future. These include implementing outside cybersecurity software and conducting security tests through the Information Technology department. Additionally, any large payments will require approval from department heads before being processed.

This case serves as a reminder of the importance of vigilance and the need for continuous education on cybersecurity threats. As technology evolves, so do the methods used by cybercriminals, making it essential for organizations to stay ahead of potential risks.