And finally…manhunt as ATM “jackpotting” sweeps US
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American law enforcement authorities are closing in on a group of thieves that have stolen more than a million dollars from ATMs across America using a new hacking technique that causes the machines to spit out its money in a manner known as “Jackpotting”.
Two of the world’s largest ATM makers Diebold Nixdorf and NCR sent out an alert to their customers last weekend along with the US Secret Service, but did not identify victims or specify how much money had been stolen.
In the attacks, the suspects get access to standalone ATMs with a key and then using a computer inject malware.
Once the suspects have breached the ATMs the machines can dispense up to 40 notes in 23 seconds — enabling the suspects to steal tens of thousands of dollars from any one ATM.
Authorities say the practice has migrated to the US having emerged in Taiwan where hackers raked in more than $2 million using the new type of malware attack before it quickly spread across parts of Asia, Europe, and Central America.
Having reached Mexico last year, the US Secret Service started warning financial institutions last week that jackpotting was now a risk in the US.
According to reports, the intervention came after the frequency of attacks in the US increased in recent weeks.
Matthew O’Neill, a US Secret Service investigator said the suspects usually work in teams with one suspect first reconfiguring the ATM and another then moving in later to steal the money.
They also disguise themselves in hats and other articles of clothing as if they are working for a company that repairs ATMs.
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