DUBUQUE, Iowa (KCRG) – Our coverage partner KCRG reports Dubuque County will not get insurance coverage for more than half a million dollars meant for the City of Dyersville that was inadvertently sent to scammers.
KCRG obtained the letter from the Iowa Communities Assurance Pool, or ICAP, which is self-insurance for Iowa municipal governments, denying coverage for the $524,283, meaning local taxpayers may be on the hook for the stolen federal funding.
The money from the federal American Rescue Plan was meant to go to the City of Dyersville for its Field of Dreams project. Dyersville has threatened to take legal action against the County if it does not provide funding.
The letter denies coverage for a couple of reasons. Primarily, ICAP says because the County actively sent the money to the wrong account it does not meet coverage for a hacking or fraudulent act.
Scammers stole the money in December 2023 when they sent a fake email to Dubuque County pretending to be the City of Dyersville and requesting the grant money be wire transferred to a new bank account.