US to deport Venezuelans who emptied bank ATMs using malware
Recorded: Jan. 23, 2026, 5 p.m.
| Original | Summarized |
US to deport Venezuelans who emptied bank ATMs using malware News Featured Curl ending bug bounty program after flood of AI slop reports INC ransomware opsec fail allowed data recovery for 12 US orgs Cisco fixes Unified Communications RCE zero day exploited in attacks Hackers exploit 29 zero-days on second day of Pwn2Own Automotive US to deport Venezuelans who emptied bank ATMs using malware Hackers exploit critical telnetd auth bypass flaw to get root What an AI-Written Honeypot Taught Us About Trusting Machines Microsoft: Outlook for iOS crashes, freezes due to coding error Tutorials Latest How to access the Dark Web using the Tor Browser How to enable Kernel-mode Hardware-enforced Stack Protection in Windows 11 How to use the Windows Registry Editor How to backup and restore the Windows Registry How to start Windows in Safe Mode How to remove a Trojan, Virus, Worm, or other Malware How to show hidden files in Windows 7 How to see hidden files in Windows Webinars Latest Qualys BrowserCheck STOPDecrypter AuroraDecrypter FilesLockerDecrypter AdwCleaner ComboFix RKill Junkware Removal Tool Deals Categories eLearning IT Certification Courses Gear + Gadgets Security VPNs Popular Best VPNs How to change IP address Access the dark web safely Best VPN for YouTube Forums Virus Removal Guides HomeNewsSecurityUS to deport Venezuelans who emptied bank ATMs using malware US to deport Venezuelans who emptied bank ATMs using malware By Sergiu Gatlan January 23, 2026 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. All the stolen funds came directly from the banks rather than individual customer accounts, hitting institutions in South Carolina, Georgia, North Carolina, and Virginia. The 2026 CISO Budget Benchmark Related Articles: ATM Sergiu Gatlan Previous Article Post a Comment Community Rules You need to login in order to post a comment Not a member yet? Register Now You may also like: Popular Stories Fortinet admins report patched FortiGate firewalls getting hacked Hackers breach Fortinet FortiGate devices, steal firewall configs Zendesk ticket systems hijacked in massive global spam wave Sponsor Posts Exposure Management Index: Insights From 3,000+ Teams. Get The Report. Overdue a password health-check? Audit your Active Directory for free Identity Governance & Threat Detection in one: Get a guided tour of our platform Discover how phishing kits are sold and deployed. Download the full research report. Upcoming Webinar Follow us: Main Sections News Community Forums Useful Resources Welcome Guide Company About BleepingComputer Terms of Use - Privacy Policy - Ethics Statement - Affiliate Disclosure Copyright @ 2003 - 2026 Bleeping Computer® LLC - All Rights Reserved Login Username Password Remember Me Sign in anonymously Sign in with Twitter Not a member yet? Register Now Help us understand the problem. What is going on with this comment? Spam Abusive or Harmful Inappropriate content Strong language Other Read our posting guidelinese to learn what content is prohibited. Submitting... |
This document details a criminal case involving two Venezuelan nationals, Luz Granados and Johan Gonzalez-Jimenez, and a broader conspiracy targeting U.S. banks through ATM jackpotting schemes in 2026. The operation, orchestrated by figures associated with the Tren de Aragua gang, involved the deployment of a Ploutus malware variant to drain funds from ATMs across South Carolina, Georgia, North Carolina, and Virginia. The core tactic utilized by the perpetrators, coordinated by individuals like Jimena Romina Araya Navarro, centered on physically accessing ATMs, removing the outer casings, and installing infected laptops capable of executing the malware. This malware bypassed ATM security protocols, forcing the machines to dispense all available cash. The attackers employed various methods to install the malware, including direct hard drive replacement and the use of thumb drives, often accompanied by the deletion of evidence to conceal their activities from bank personnel. Prosecutors successfully built a case, partly through evidence shared with Nebraska authorities, leading to the indictment of 54 individuals in a related scheme spanning multiple states and targeting millions in ATM withdrawals. Authorities also swiftly initiated deportation proceedings against Granados and Gonzalez-Jimenez, alongside five other Venezuelan nationals convicted or pleading guilty to similar crimes. The investigation highlighted the sophisticated nature of cybercrime, particularly the use of malware like Ploutus in targeted attacks against financial institutions. The case underscored the importance of constant monitoring and proactive security measures to mitigate threats posed by organized criminal groups, such as the Tren de Aragua, who are exploiting vulnerabilities in ATM systems for financial gain. The successful prosecution of these individuals represented a significant effort by U.S. law enforcement to combat this emerging form of fraud. The investigation also triggered a broader awareness of the risks associated with ATM security and prompted calls for increased vigilance from the financial sector. |