News

Romanian authorities nab perpetrators of $15M ATM heist

The criminal group is alleged to have stolen more than $15 million from ATMs in coordinated attacks carried out in 24 countries during 2013.

May 1, 2015

Romanian authorities last week rounded up 25 of 52 alleged members of an organized crime gang accused of committing computer crimes and money laundering in a criminal enterprise that netted $15 million in cash stolen from ATMs in two dozen countries.

A press release from the Directorate for Investigating Organized Crime and Terrorism — Bucharest Territorial Service said that an April 26 raid coordinated by DIICOT and the Brigade for Combating Organized Crime included 42 house searches in Bucharest and five other Romanian cities.

The raid resulted in the seizure of 16 laptops and mobile phones used in criminal activity, as well as gold ingots, paintings, 150,000 euros ($168,750), and other "movable and immovable property" purchased by leaders of the group.

According to the release, the gang, which included citizens of Romania and other countries, engaged in the criminal withdrawal of more than $15 million from ATMs in 24 nations, including the U.S., Belgium, Canada, Colombia, the Dominican Republic, Egypt, Estonia, Germany, Indonesia, Italy, Japan, Latvia, Malaysia, Mexico, Pakistan, Romania, Russia, Spain, Sri Lanka, Thailand, Ukraine, UAE, and the U.K.

The thefts occurred in 34,000 withdrawals carried out from February through December, 2013, authorities allege. Data for counterfeit ATM cards was collected through the unauthorized access to computer systems of banking institutions. Cloned cards were then distributed to members of the group, who acted in an organized manner, and within a specified timeframe, on days when the target banks were closed.

In an operation on Dec. 2, 2013, the gang is alleged to have made 4,200 withdrawals in 15 cities for a total take of $5 million. Another operation in Japan on Dec. 20 netted $9 million from banks there, authorities allege.