$178K Wire Fraud Targets Princeton Schools, Board Addresses Incident

PRINCETON, NJ — The Princeton School District is speaking out after it fell victim to a $178,000 wire fraud scam.

Board President Dafna Kendall addressed the public at the Board of Education reorganization meeting on Jan. 6 after the incident became public through the Princeton Police blotter.

The incident happened in September 2024 when Kendall said the district was undergoing referendum projects and was contacted by a vendor through email for payment.

"We were asked to wire three separate payments from an email that came from the vendor. And we wired those payments," said Kendall.

The payments totaled just over $178,000.

It wasn't until December 2025 when the vendor called the school district looking for payment, said Kendall.

"That's when we realized that something untoward had occurred," said Kendall.

The district spoke with their legal counsel, who advised that they file a police report. The report was filed on Dec. 19, 2025.

"While we can’t get into any additional details, the board is confident that we are not out those funds, but the vendor is out those funds," said Kendall. "Right now, it doesn’t look like the district suffered the loss."

Additionally, at the meeting, Susan Kanter, Dafna Kendal, and Erica Snyder were sworn into office. The three members ran unopposed in the November 2025 election.

Kanter received 6,809 votes, Kendal received 6,885 votes, and Snyder received 7,404 votes.

Kendal was unanimously chosen to serve as Board President and Kanter as Vice President.

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