‘Jackpotting’ hackers targeting ATMs in the US, Secret Service says

A Secret Service memo obtained by Krebs on Security has received information that cybercriminals are planning to use “cash-out crews” to target ATMs manufactured by Diebold Nixdorf.

It cites a series of thefts over the past ten days and warned of possible upcoming attacks across the country.

These types of attacks are known as “jackpotting,” and government officials are quietly warning ATM manufacturers and financial institutions that jackpotting hackers have been spotted targeting cash machines in the U.S.

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“The targeted stand-alone ATMs are routinely located in pharmacies, big box retailers, and drive-thru ATMs,” stated the alert. “During previous attacks, fraudsters dressed as ATM technicians and attached a laptop computer with a mirror image of the ATMs operating system along with a mobile device to the targeted ATM.”

The Secret Service alert says that criminals can use an endoscope — a device usually inserted into the human body during medical procedures — to look inside the ATM and find a place to connect their laptop to the internal mechanism.

 

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