GALA Hispanic Theatre recovers $255,000 drained in bank fraud

GALA Hispanic Theatre, a nonprofit Latino theatre company in Washington, DC, lost roughly $255,000 on January 11, 2024 when its Citibank account was emptied by fraudsters.

The theatre's accountant discovered the theft while working in the bank's online system. She was locked out mid session and shown a message indicating that someone else had been using the account. According to DCist the money moved in about ten seconds. It went to a Bank of America account in New York held in the name of Infinity Source LLC, which GALA executive director Rebecca Medrano said appeared to be fake. Roughly $3,000 was left behind. The intrusion was treated as a suspected business email compromise.

With a production opening in February and payroll to meet, GALA drew on board approved emergency funds and launched a public appeal. Donations arrived quickly, with reporting putting the total raised at anywhere from about $48,000 to more than $70,000 depending on when the count was taken.

Citibank initially told the theatre that an investigation could take months. On January 25, 2024 it reversed course and credited the full amount back, writing that "upon careful review we're pleased to honor this claim and credit our client with its lost funds."