WASHINGTON – On this date, The United States Secret Service issued
warnings to financial institutions about cyberattacks on ATM’s known as
“jackpotting.”
ATM jackpotting is a sophisticated crime in which thieves install malicious
software and/or hardware at ATMs that force the machines to dispense huge
volumes of cash on demand. To execute a jackpotting attack, perpetrators must
gain physical access to the cash machine and install malware, or specialized
electronics, or a combination of both to control the operations of the ATM.
Criminals have been able to find vulnerabilities in financial institutions that
operate ATM’s, primarily ATM’s that are stand-alone. The targeted stand-alone
ATMs are routinely located in pharmacies, big box retailers, and drive thru
ATMs. Criminals range from individual suspects to large organized groups,
from local criminals to international organized crime syndicates.
The Secret Service recently obtained credible information about planned
jackpotting attacks in the U.S. through partners of our Electronic Crimes Task
Force (ECTF). The agency alerted other law enforcement partners and
financial institutions who could potentially be impacted by this crime.
The Secret Service currently has 40 ECTF’s throughout the U.S. ECTF’s utilize
the combined resources of the private sector and other federal, state and local
law enforcement agencies to combat threats to the U.S. financial payment
systems and critical infrastructure.
