CABARRUS COUNTY, N.C. -- Cabarrus County officials are looking into a scam that cost the county millions of dollars.

• Cabarrus County fell victim to a scam that cost the county millions of dollars.
• The scheme diverted a multi-million dollar vendor payment. 
• They thought it was going to a contracting company for West Cabarrus High School. 

County manager Mike Down says the scheme diverted a multi-million dollar vendor payment from the county for the new West Cabarrus High School.

They sent $2.5 million to what they thought was the correct contracting company on December 21.

But January 8^, Cabarrus County Schools received a notice that a payment had been missed — and the county contacted authorities to investigate. 

 "It just happens to be a part of our society these days with technology and advancement with scams and things that happen these days,” said Lynn Shue.

So far, investigators recovered only about half of the money. The county’s “extraordinary circumstances” fund will cover the payment for the school to avoid construction delays.