FBI: Cloned debit cards used in worldwide scheme

The FBI is looking for suspects caught on video cameras who allegedly used cloned payroll debit cards to withdraw money from ATMs in a multi-city crime spree late last year, according to the Chicago Tribune.

The FBI in Chicago released surveillance photos of two suspects at ATMs allegedly participating in a worldwide scam using cards created by hackers who breached the computer of RBS WorldPay, a firm in Atlanta that processes financial transactions. Money from 100 accounts was withdrawn during a 10-hour period on November 8, the report said.

Fox 5 News reported earlier this week that as much as $9 million was withdrawn using the cloned cards from more than 130 different ATMs in nearly 50 cities.

RBS WorldPay announced in December that its computer network had been breached, exposing data of as many as 1.5 million cardholders and 1.1 million Social Security numbers.

Another payment processor, Heartland Payment Systems, reported on Inauguration Day last month that its network had been breached. That breach has led to a lawsuit.

[sparrowhyperion]

It's safer to hide your money under your mattress nowadays... I never liked banks anyway. I mean, when you deposit money in them, you are basically loaning them that money. BUT when you ask to borrow money from them, they charge you outlandish interest rates... Nice little scam eh...

[markdoiron]

Maybe this is mixing apples and oranges, but blame the author of the article for providing the facts that do that, not me: 100 accounts were used to withdraw $9 million at 130 ATMs. It sounds like the thieves had to use a particular card multiple times to complete the theft, which isn't surprising considering withdrawal limits. But they averaged $90,000 from each account? Something doesn't add up--I suspect there were a lot more accounts involved. And they did this in eight hours in 50 cities, but have only two suspects on video? Now something really seems amiss. --mark d.

[gggg sssss]

Isnt RBS going down the tubes already anyway? Govt takeover? Loved their ads tho.

[biffhenerson]

In my opinion, nothing they want us to use is secure. I am amazed how many people trust these machines and networks. The next financial meltdown might be when the the hackers zero out everyones account at every bank. I like the mattress idea.