FIVE Venezuelan nationals pleaded guilty to attempting ATM jackpotting in Kansas, a technique that involves installing malware to make ATMs dispense cash. The U.S. Department of Justice announced their guilty pleas after an FBI investigation revealed the suspects targeted ATMs in Wamego and Manhattan. The group failed to steal money after their malware installation triggered alarms. Those involved include Luis Alberto Velasquez-Artigas and four others, with one already sentenced to nine months in prison.
The FBI reported over 700 jackpotting incidents in 2025, causing more than $20 million in losses, highlighting the hybrid security threats faced by financial institutions from such attacks. Authorities urge banks to enhance security to prevent jackpotting.