US to deport Venezuelans who emptied bank ATMs using malware

BleepingComputer

January 23, 2026 at 4:38 PM

Actively Exploited

Overview

Two Venezuelan nationals have been convicted for their involvement in an ATM jackpotting scheme that resulted in the theft of hundreds of thousands of dollars from U.S. banks. Federal prosecutors in South Carolina announced that after serving their prison sentences, the men will be deported back to Venezuela. Jackpotting refers to a method where criminals use malware to manipulate ATMs, causing them to dispense cash without proper authorization. This case highlights the ongoing risks of ATM fraud and the challenges law enforcement faces in addressing cybercrime that crosses international borders. The actions of these individuals not only impacted financial institutions but also posed risks to consumers and the integrity of banking systems in the U.S.

Key Takeaways

Active Exploitation: This vulnerability is being actively exploited by attackers. Immediate action is recommended.
Affected Systems: U.S. banks, ATMs
Action Required: Increased security measures for ATMs, monitoring for unusual activity, and implementation of more advanced anti-malware solutions.
Timeline: Disclosed on October 2023

Original Article Summary

South Carolina federal prosecutors announced that two Venezuelan nationals convicted of stealing hundreds of thousands of dollars from U.S. banks in an ATM jackpotting scheme will be deported after serving their sentences. [...]

Impact

U.S. banks, ATMs

Exploitation Status

This vulnerability is confirmed to be actively exploited by attackers in real-world attacks. Organizations should prioritize patching or implementing workarounds immediately.

Timeline

Disclosed on October 2023

Remediation

Increased security measures for ATMs, monitoring for unusual activity, and implementation of more advanced anti-malware solutions.

Additional Information

This threat intelligence is aggregated from trusted cybersecurity sources. For the most up-to-date information, technical details, and official vendor guidance, please refer to the original article linked below.

Related Topics: This incident relates to Malware.

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