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Flash Mob Steals $9 Million From ATMs

Posted by Soulskill on from the viral-ad-for-ocean's-one-hundred-thirty dept.

Mike writes "A global flash mob of ATM thieves netted $9 million in fraud against ATMs in 49 cities around the world. The computer system for a company called RBS WorldPay was hacked. One service of the company is the ability for employers to pay employees with the money going directly to a debit card that can be used in any ATM. The hacker was able to infiltrate the supposedly secure system and steal the information necessary to duplicate or clone people's ATM cards. Shortly after midnight Eastern Time on November 8, the FBI believes that dozens of the so-called cashers were used in a coordinated attack on ATMs around the world. Over 130 different ATMs in 49 cities worldwide were accessed in a 30-minute period on November 8. 'We've never seen one this well coordinated,' the FBI said. So far, the FBI has no suspects and has made no arrests (PDF) in this scam."

8 of 232 comments (clear)

  1. cough by easyTree · · Score: 5, Funny

    in other news a flash mob recovered all the rights that have been stolen from the people by their governments over the last few years

    --
    Requiem for the American Dream
    1. Re:cough by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Funny

      Obama is in office, you can stop saying things like that. He's going to fix everything, the internet told me so. ;)

  2. Holy Bonus Batman! by Overzeetop · · Score: 5, Funny

    That's almost as much as John Thain (of Merrill Lynch) thought he should get for securing the bailout funds!

    --
    Is it just my observation, or are there way too many stupid people in the world?
  3. Re:This doesn't sound right by NotQuiteReal · · Score: 5, Funny

    Maybe it is like the "street value" quoted in a drug bust, or like an RIAA accounting for music "theft".

    Here we have $9,000,000 listed as the retail value of the loss, the actual paper money they got is nearly worthless, because ATMs only issue "bank notes", nothing more.

    --
    This issue is a bit more complicated than you think.
  4. Looking at their photos... by denzacar · · Score: 5, Funny

    They don't look like someone who just won a lottery to me.

    They look more like homeless people.
    Which brings up the question - why aren't there more homeless people robbing banks out there?

    I mean... they are in a clear advantage.
    They are invisible AND they have nothing to lose.
    Worst case scenario - they get sent to a jail. HA!
    3 meals a day, clothing, housing and health-care at the cost of the society.

    --
    Mit der Dummheit kämpfen Götter selbst vergebens
  5. Re:This doesn't sound right by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Funny

    About five Euro.

  6. Re:How's this a flash mob? by timeOday · · Score: 5, Funny

    $9M in 49 cities around the world without a trace, but the joke's on them, because we know it wasn't a real flash mob. And isn't that really what matters?

  7. And his sidekick. . . by tuna_wasabi · · Score: 5, Funny

    Redundant Boy!

    Also, since the N in PIN stands for Number, saying PIN number is redundant. TFA didn't make this mistake, but since they go together so often I though I'd point it out for completeness.

    One time I heard a friend say "I want to get some cash out of the ATM Machine, but I can't remember my PIN Number."

    He's dead now.