Europol arrests gang that emptied ATMs with malware

Europol, in collaboration with the Romanian police, among others, has arrested a gang that infected European ATMs with malware. As a result, the gang was able to empty the machines. The arrests took place in Romania and Moldova.

The gang infected the ATMs with the so-called Tyupkin malware. This form of malware makes it possible to enter a certain key combination via the number block of the machine, after which the cash cassettes of the machine are emptied. The gangs usually use money mules that receive the code by text message and then take the money with them. In 2014, there were already reports that this form of malware was being used by gangs.

Europol says that in recent years more and more attacks via malware have been carried out on European ATMs. Criminals would constantly come up with new ways to crack the machines and that is why it is important that there is international cooperation between the different police forces. Europols EC3 in The Hague has drawn up guidelines on this form of attacks on ATMs.