US Charges 31 More in Massive ATM Hacking Scheme

Justice Department charges 31 in ATM jackpotting scheme linked to Tren de Aragua, using Ploutus malware to steal millions.

By Content Team

Jan 28, 2026

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The Justice Department charged 31 more people in a massive ATM "jackpotting" scheme, bringing total defendants to 87. Most suspects are Venezuelan nationals, including members of the Tren de Aragua crime syndicate, plus some Colombians.

The criminals used Ploutus malware to hack ATMs and steal millions. They physically tampered with machines, swapping hard drives or using USB devices to install the malware. Once activated, it forced ATMs to spit out cash, then deleted itself to avoid detection.

While Ploutus peaked in 2017-2018, it remained active through last year. All charged individuals face deportation after conviction.

Source: Security Week

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