DENVER — A scheme in which criminals hack ATM software to get it to dispense thousands of dollars is now “rampant,” according to financial security experts and ATM industry representatives.
In one such incident, a criminal case was recently filed against two men in the U.S. District Court of Colorado. It outlines a scheme known as “jackpotting.”
“Jackpotting” is a technologically savvy method in which criminals gain access to ATM hardware by using common ATM keys found available for purchase online. Once criminals unlock ATM panels, they then use USB sticks and hard drives containing malware to hack the machine’s software so thousands of dollars in cash is dispensed at once…