Crime

Fraudster Spent Months Posing as Contractor Before Diverting $14.7M Payment

Authentic contractor invoice helped months-long impersonation gain credibility on $300-million Regions Arena project in Mobile, Ala.

By Bryan Gottlieb

Photo courtesy Regions Bank/Facebook

Regions Arena is under construction in downtown Mobile, Ala., under a $237-million contract with B.L. Harbert International. A fraudster posing as the contractor diverted a $14.7-million city payment intended for the firm.

October 29, 2026

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A fraudster posing as B.L. Harbert International spent months communicating with Mobile, Ala., employees before a $14.7-million Regions Arena construction payment was sent to a fraudulent bank account Oct. 2.

A city employee shared a genuine B.L. Harbert invoice with the impostor, helping establish credibility as vendor information was changed in Mobile's payment system.

B.L. Harbert questioned the missing payment Oct.…