Lieber’s got money back

LAST WEEK an Albuquerque Journal headline read “Russian hackers hit ABQ company. FBI: Lieber’s Luggage taken for $57K in 2009 cybercrime scheme.” There was an incident nine years ago, but Lieber’s was not “taken” for anything.

To add to the misinformation, the eJournal headline read “FBI: Russian hackers stole $57K from Lieber’s Luggage in 2009.”

At that time, a Lieber’s account at Bank of Albuquerque was indeed hacked. An originally sealed 2014 criminal complaint filed by an FBI agent accuses a Russian resident of being “a member of a long-running conspiracy to employ widespread computer intrusions, malicious software, and fraud to steal millions of dollars from numerous bank accounts in the United States and elsewhere … and that they infected thousands of business computers.” The complaint notes 25 selected victims, half of which are banks. Lieber’s Luggage and Bank of Albuquerque are the only New Mexico victims listed.

The total amount initially taken from Lieber’s (account) was about $57,000. All but $9,000 was quickly recovered. Bank of Albuquerque, to its credit, protected Lieber’s against the balance.

Unknown is the story of how the FBI uncovered the criminal conspiracy. Now that would be an interesting piece of investigative reporting to see in the Albuquerque Journal!

LESLEE RICHARDS and FRANK FINE Owners, Lieber’s Luggage Albuquerque