Five Venezuelans Plead Guilty in ATM Jackpotting Scheme

• •Five Venezuelan nationals pleaded guilty to ATM jackpotting attempts.
• •The FBI reported over 1,900 ATM jackpotting incidents since 2020.
• •Criminals are increasingly using malware to exploit ATM vulnerabilities.

Five Venezuelan nationals pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit bank larceny in a Kansas federal court. They attempted to install malware on ATMs in Wamego and Manhattan, Kansas, in December 2025, but their efforts failed and triggered police alarms. The FBI reported over 1,900 ATM jackpotting incidents since 2020, with losses exceeding $58 million since 2021. This case is part of a growing trend of ATM jackpotting, where criminals use malware to force ATMs to dispense cash. The defendants were caught on surveillance cameras and arrested shortly after their attempts. U.S. Attorney Ryan Kriegshauser emphasized the need for banks to invest in protective technologies against such attacks.