FBI warns: ATM hack in the works

Banks, beware: A big digital heist is imminent.

The FBI has sent sent out an ominous warning to international banks that cybercrooks are prepping for an “ATM cashout” malware attack to snatch millions in minutes, according to security blogger Krebs on Security.

The cyber-swindlers plan to hack a bank or card processor and use cloned cards at ATMs around the world, according to the secret alert issued last week.

And the cash hack is imminent, the agency warns.

“The FBI has obtained unspecified reporting indicating cyber criminals are planning to conduct a global Automated Teller Machine cash-out scheme in the coming days, likely associated with an unknown card issuer breach and commonly referred to as an ‘unlimited operation,’ ” reads the confidential warning obtained by the blogger.

“Historic compromises have included small-to-medium size financial institutions, likely due to less robust implementation of cyber security controls, budgets, or thirdparty vendor vulnerabilities. The FBI expects the ubiquity of this activity to continue or possibly increase in the near future.”

The FBI did not immediately return a call for comment.

An eerie preview was reported in June when the National Bank of Blacksburg, in Virginia, sued its insurer, revealing hackers used phishing emails to break into the bank twice over an eight-month stretch and swipe more than $2.4 million.

And in January, two of the world’s largest ATM makers warned of a practice known as “jackpotting,” in which hackers target standalone ATMs typically located in pharmacies, big-box retailers and drive-thru ATMs.

Diebold Nixdorf Inc. and NCR Corp. issued an alert, and the “jackpotting” reportedly netted cyber-thieves more than $1 million.