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Tracking a Bluetooth ATM Skimming Gang In Mexico

Posted by Soulskill on from the automatic-theft-machine dept.

tsu doh nimh writes: Brian Krebs has an interesting and entertaining three-part series this week on how he spent his summer vacation: driving around the Cancun area looking for ATMs beaconing out Bluetooth signals indicating the machines are compromised by crooks. Turns out, he didn't have to look for: His own hotel had a hacked machine. Krebs said he first learned about the scheme when an ATM industry insider reached out to say that some Eastern European guys had approached all of his ATM technicians offering bribes if the technicians allowed physical access to the machines. Once inside, the crooks installed two tiny Bluetooth radios — one for the card reader and one for the PIN pad. Krebs's series concludes with a closer look at Intacash, a new ATM company whose machines now blanket Cancun and other tourist areas but which is suspected of being connected to the skimming activity.

7 of 44 comments (clear)

  1. Once again the weak link is people by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Insightful

    Screw penetrating layers of complex, trusted security systems. Meager bribe to one underpaid and overworked average joe and you get the keys to the kingdom.

    If I were doing a serious pen test know where I'd look first? HR. Turnover and employee dissatisfaction will highlight where the biggest security holes are.

    1. Re:Once again the weak link is people by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Funny

      Unless they are terminated by dismemberment. Then you'll be needing several severance packages.

  2. Brian Krebs rocks by Kludge · · Score: 2

    Brian Krebs is awesome.

  3. Nothing good happens in Mexico by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 2, Funny

    You're asking for trouble if you visit that shithole.

    Trump 2016!!!

    1. Re:Nothing good happens in Mexico by myowntrueself · · Score: 2

      Well, I'm not a Trump fan, I don't trust him one bit

      You trust other politicians??

      --
      In the free world the media isn't government run; the government is media run.
  4. "Turns out, he didn't have to look for" by Camel+Pilot · · Score: 4, Informative

    Should that be "far"? Editors to the main deck pelase.

  5. This is why I like my low credit limit cards by RPGonAS400 · · Score: 2
    This was one of the first times I took the time to RTFA - not just one, but all 3 installments. It was a really interesting read.

    I like using a low credit limit card for most transactions just for the very reason that I lack trust in the system.