City of Wilmington media mailbox offline amid rising local cyberattacks

WILMINGTON, NC (WWAY) — The City of Wilmington says it is taking its media mailbox offline while conducting a proactive security review in response to a wave of cyberattacks on local governments in the Cape Fear region.

The temporary shutdown of the city’s external email access is part of an effort to protect sensitive communications and reduce cyber risks, officials said. There has been no security incident involving the media mailbox itself, the city said.

The move comes as cybercrime continues to impact neighboring communities. Pender County lost more than $650,000 after scammers impersonated a utilities authority and tricked county officials into changing banking details.

Carolina Beach also has been targeted by cyberattacks that resulted in the theft of nearly half a million dollars in December. Town officials said two incidents in December led to approximately $487,994.80 being stolen, with investigators involving the FBI and other authorities.

City officials said the media mailbox review is being conducted out of caution and to evaluate any public-facing systems that could expose sensitive information. Residents and media members can still request public records through the City Clerk’s Office online or in person at the Skyline Center.

The city expects to update the public on the status of the media mailbox by the end of March.