US authorities have charged two men with bank fraud after they allegedly used malware to jackpot ATMs and empty the machines of cash.
Last week it emerged that the US Secret Service has been warning banks and ATM manufacturers that jackpotting has finally hit American shores. The scam usually sees crooks dress as repair technicians, install malware and then wait for partners to extract the cash.
In January, Citizens Bank contacted police about suspicious activity. The cops then encountered Alex Alberto Fajin-Diaz and Argenys Rodriguez near an ATM that had been compromised with jackpotting malware and was in the process of dispensing $20 bills.
A search of the suspects' vehicle found tools and electronic devices "consistent with items needed to compromise an ATM machine to dispense its cash contents". The pair also had more than $9000 in $20 bills.
Having been arrested on related state charges back in January, on Monday Fajin-Diaz and Rodriguez appeared before a US Magistrate Judge in Connecticut and were detained. Bank fraud carries a maximum term of imprisonment of 30 years.