Hackers making news and not to mention, millions!

March 15, 2010 Computer News

Chicago FBI released surveillance photographs of two suspects who allegedly took part in a highly organized and well coordinated heist that involved the theft of millions of dollars from ATMs around the world – all over a 10-hour period.

According to the FBI investigators, these hackers succeeded in gaining access to the computers of RBS WorldPay, an Atlanta-based firm that processes electronic financial transactions. By using information gleaned from the company’s computer systems the hackers cloned payroll debit cards (which some companies use to pay wages), and absconded with the money.

The next step was to get the cards into the hands of people all over the world, including six to eight in the Chicago region, who then made thousands of ATM withdrawals over 10 hours.

“What makes this different than a typical case . . . is the tremendous amount of coordination and the very high degree of sophistication that those behind this scam obviously have,” said Frank Bochte, an FBI spokesman in Chicago.
In another incident reported recently, hackers have succeeded in pullign off one fo the biggest heists in the history of hacking.

A carefully constructed and almost flawlessly implemented global ATM heist resulted in the hackler in question raking in $9 million in cash, all in just one day! The hacker in question was believed to have penetrated a server at payment processor RBS WorldPay.

As was reported by RBS WorldPay, on December 23, the hacker was able to abscond with personal information on approximately 1.5 million payroll-card and gift-card customers. This proved to be quite devastating, as Payroll cards are debit cards issued and recharged by employers as an alternative to pay cheques and direct-deposits. It has recently come to light that account numbers and other mag-stripe data (needed to clone the debit cards) were also compromised in the breach.

At the time, RBS WorldPay said it identified fraudulent activity on only 100 cards, making it sound like a minor breach had occurred. But it turns out the hacker managed to lift the withdrawal limits on those 100 cards, before dispatching a “global army of cashers to drain them with repeated rapid-fire withdrawals”. Approximately more than 130 ATMs in 49 cities from Moscow to Atlanta were hit simultaneously, just after midnight Eastern Time on November 8.
A class action lawsuit has been filed against RBS WorldPay on behalf of their consumers.

Although it may seem like a lucrative career option, one should always remember that what goes around comes around, and every season has its time and day! What goes up always comes down – so what out all you hackers – Karma has a keen eye – and will definitely flip the switch on you – resulting in the karmic turnaround of what is right is right! Just always seeks justice! This is how life is! Word to the wise!