Police believe ATM heists in Thailand connected to ATM robberies in Taiwan, Malaysia

  

BANGKOK, 25 August 2016 (NNT) - Police released CCTV footage of an Eastern European man who they believe was among many others hacking into Government Savings Bank (GSB) ATMs using malware to withdraw 12 million baht. 

The police believe the man in the footage carried out a series of ATM heists with a team of less than 20 people. Twenty-one GSB ATMs attacked by the malware are located in Bangkok, Phuket, Surat Thani, Chumphon, Prachuab Khiri Khan, Nakhon Si Thammarat and Petchaburi. 

Most of the criminals approached the cash machines after midnight with their faces covered before stealing the money. The thefts, which took place from July 7th to 30th, were detected by the bank earlier this month. Police believe the perpetrator was assisted by Thai nationals. 

. A police investigation also revealed that the ATM servers were controlled by a group of people in Switzerland during the malware attacks. Authorities believe the ATM robberies in Thailand is linked with other ATM heists that took place in Malaysia and Taiwan. 

Immigration Bureau Chief Police Lieutenant General Nattorn Prohsunthorn said nationalities of the suspects, most of whom have already left the country, remain unclear. Thailand is however seeking cooperation from Russian police to help identify their origins. 

A meeting between the police and the bank will be held on Friday to find ways to bring back members of the robbery gang to face criminal charges in Thailand. 

 

-- nnt 2016-08-25

Quote

A police investigation also revealed that the ATM servers were controlled by a group of people in Switzerland during the malware attacks. Authorities believe the ATM robberies in Thailand is linked with other ATM heists that took place in Malaysia and Taiwan.

 

So their network was compromised then.

No use trying to blame the ATM manufacturers when you let someone walk in and reconfigure them.