State & Local Government Policy, Business and Technology

Albuquerque scammed out of at least $400,000 in electronic fraud scheme

American City and County: A fraudulent billing scheme has swindled Albuquerque, N.M. out of over $400,000.

A scammer posing as a construction company that had worked with the city called the Albuquerque Department of Financial and Administrative Services, saying they needed to change their payment information, according to Albuquerque TV station KOAT.

The scammer ultimately billed the city for $420,000, which was paid in public funds, Albuquerque TV station KOB 4 reports.

“We have vendors that we make electronic payments to, and basically, those payments were compromised through electronic wire transfers,” Albuquerque Chief Administrative Officer Rob Perry told the Albuquerque Journal. “We’re working with the Albuquerque Police Department and FBI cybercrimes unit to conduct a preliminary investigation into this matter.”

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