GoKawiilFive Venezuelan nationals plead guilty in Kansas ATM jackpotting scheme
Five men from Venezuela have pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to commit bank larceny after attempting to use malware to force ATMs to dispense cash in Wamego and Manhattan, Kansas. Both attempts failed—one triggered an alarm and the other simply didn't work—and surveillance footage helped lead to their arrests in December 2025. One defendant, Luis Alberto Velasquez-Artigas, has already been sentenced to nine months in prison, while the rest await sentencing.
GoKawiil's interpretation of the reporting above, not reported fact.
ATM jackpotting, where criminals install malware to trick machines into dispensing all their cash, remains an active threat targeting older or less-secured ATM models across the country. This case shows law enforcement is actively pursuing these networks, but it also highlights that many financial institutions still haven't upgraded systems to guard against known malware strains like Ploutus and Skimer.
- Five Venezuelan nationals pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit bank larceny tied to ATM jackpotting attempts.
- Both attack attempts in Kansas failed, but surveillance footage helped authorities track down the suspects.
- Officials are urging banks to update ATM security to defend against known jackpotting malware tools.
Source: bleepingcomputer.com, 2026-09-01
Published there as: “Five Venezuelans plead guilty to ATM jackpotting attacks in US”
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