International criminal group in just a few hours stole $ 45 million: having got access to a database on debit cards, they to remove cash in ATMs worldwide. According to prosecutor’s office of the USA, some thousand thefts from ATMs with use of duplicates of cards with a magnetic tape on which the data of clients of Middle Eastern banks obtained by hackers were put were made.
As prosecutor Lauretta Lynch notes, swindlers acted with a tremendous speed, working with small gangs worldwide, including in New York. On suspicion in theft seven citizens of the USA which have arrived to the country from Dominican Republic are already arrested.
Hackers infiltrated the databases of banks, eliminated restrictions on cash withdrawals with debit cards and created their own access codes. Their accomplices loaded these data on plastic cards with a magnetic tape, including old card keys from hotel rooms or overdue credit cards. Then a group of swindlers sent immediately withdraw funds from these cards at once in many cities around the world.
As reported by the U.S. government, such raids crooks made twice: in December they managed to steal $ 5 million, and in February for 10 hours, they stole 40 million dollars, having made nearly 36,000 transactions.
The victims of criminals were two Middle Eastern Bank: Rakbank in the United Arab Emirates and the Bank of Muscat in Oman. Criminals make withdrawals at ATMs 27 countries, including Japan, Russia, Romania, Egypt, Colombia, the UK, Sri Lanka and Canada.
Filed under: IT Security News
