According to the US Justice Department, those arrested were said to be members of the New York cell of an "international cybercrime organization, which used sophisticated intrusion techniques to hack into the systems of financial institutions, steal prepaid debit card data, and make fraudulent ATM withdrawals on a global scale."
Officials said the cyber-ring managed to steal USD 45 million in late 2012 and early 2013 by manipulating the limits of prepaid debit cards from Abu Dhabi-based National Bank of Ras Al-Khaimah and Bank Muscat of Oman.
This type of heist is known in criminal circle as an "unlimited operation." Two were allegedly carried out: first on December 22 last year and again on February 19 and 20 this year.
In the first heist, more than 4,500 ATM transactions were conducted in some 20 countries around the world, resulting in USD 5 million in losses. In the second in February 2013, cybercells in 24 countries withdrew about $40 million from ATMs, according to officials.
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In the initial stage, taking several months, sophisticated hackers allegedly infiltrated credit card processors' computer networks, looking into databases of prepaid debit cards, a tool used often by employers and aid organizations.
Next, the cybergang distributed the debit card numbers to its street associates called "cashers," who loaded more magnetic stripe cards, like gift cards, with the stolen data.
Those arrested today were identified as Anthony Diaz, Saul Franjul, Saul Genao, Jaindhi Polanco and Jose Angeley Valerio.
"As alleged, just a few months ago, after exploiting cyber-weaknesses in the financial system to steal millions from ATMs, these defendants were packing bags to the brim with stolen cash, destined for the cybercriminal organizers of these attacks," said US Attorney Loretta Lynch.