Tecnológico de Artes Débora Arango reports $657 million payroll fraud

The Tecnológico de Artes Débora Arango has reported a sophisticated computer fraud involving approximately $657 million pesos. Rector Juan Carlos Mejía Giraldo informed the Envigado Council that the incident occurred on September 15, 2026, during a payroll process for 58 employees.

According to the institution, criminals manipulated banking data by altering identification numbers and destination accounts while leaving the names of the beneficiaries intact. The fraudulent activity included two large internal transfers—one of roughly $281 million and another of about $330 million—some of which are linked to a program funded by the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB).

Internal reviews found no evidence of a breach in the institution's own systems, leading officials to focus investigations on the banking transactional portals. The institution has filed formal claims with BBVA and Banco de Bogotá. The Fiscalía General de la Nación is currently investigating the case, and the Contraloría has been requested to intervene.