ATM jackpotting scheme leads to deportation for 2 individuals

Two Venezuelan nationals are facing deportation after being convicted of a multi-state ATM jackpotting scheme that drained hundreds of thousands of dollars from banks across South Carolina, Georgia, and Virginia. The sophisticated operation involved bypassing security measures to force ATMs to dispense cash. This case highlights the evolving tactics of financial cybercrime, as reported by HackRead.

Luz Granados, 34, and Johan Gonzalez-Jimenez, 40, were convicted of conspiracy and computer-related crimes. The duo targeted older ATMs by physically accessing their outer casings at night and connecting a laptop. They then deployed malware to bypass security protocols, compelling the machines to dispense all available cash. Importantly, the scheme targeted the banks' funds, not individual customer accounts.

The investigation, a joint effort by the U.S. Secret Service and the South Carolina Law Enforcement Division, uncovered that the operation extended to Georgia and Virginia, and evidence from this case aided in charges against 54 others in a similar scheme in Nebraska. Granados was sentenced to time served and ordered to pay $126,340 in restitution, while Gonzalez-Jimenez received 18 months in federal prison and $285,100 in restitution.

Source: HackRead