Flash Mob Steals $9 Million From ATMs

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."

Comments

And the money went where?

[Hieronymus.N]

So, were they on the honor system to funnel the cash back to the 'hacker'? Or was this like winning the lottery?

Re:This doesn't sound right

[caspper69]

The article says over $9,000,000 was stolen using only 100 cards in 49 cities in a 30 minute period. That, boys and girls, is $90,000 per card. The article says the limits on the cards were overridden, using them to make withdrawals in multiple increments of $500 or so. $90,000 / $500 is 180 withdrawals in a 30 minute period, or 6 withdrawals per minute.

This article doesn't pass the basic sniff test. It reeks of either disinformation or seriously bad math.

Yes, but it doesn't say how many copies of each card they made.

Re:$9 Million?

[Samschnooks]

$9 Million stolen from a bank? Peanuts compared to the next $900 Billion the banks are stealing back again - a hundred thousand times more.... I can't even get to grips with that scale of money....

There's a BIG difference. One group was a bunch of unimaginative, unethical, thieving liars and cowards. The other group had the imagination to do something and take advantage of a weak poorly designed system that gets the guys with the badges and guns after you.

It takes a REAL criminal mind to lobby the regulatory agencies and Congress with dirty money to make your thieving legal. And it's really a piece of work when those lying thieves walk away with tens of millions of dollars in bonuses for cheating.

Re:This doesn't sound right

[Anonymous Coward]

Let's look at it another way.

$9MM / ($500 / transaction) / 130 ATMs / 30 min = ~4.6 transactions/ATM/min

Still seems rather high. I suppose I've never timed it, but it always feels like it takes more than 13 seconds to get my money at an ATM...

Re:How is it a mob at all?

[Anonymous Coward]

I don't see a crowd here.

zoom out.

Re:Holy Bonus Batman!

[tres]

This is such an insightful comment.

I believe that banking institutions are more dangerous to our liberties than standing armies. — Thomas Jefferson

and I still had mod points just yesterday...