Hackers Hit Atlanta Company; Steal $9 Million

A group of thieves stole more than $9 million from ATMs in Atlanta and cities around the world after hackers broke into a computer at an Atlanta-based company.

The high-tech crooks broke into the computer at Atlanta's RBS WorldPay in November and stole information on 100 customers' ATM cards, according to the FBI. Then they cloned the cards, in effect creating duplicate ATM cards.

On Nov. 8, in a highly coordinated operation, dozens of people used the cloned cards to steal cash from 130 ATMs in 49 cities including Atlanta, New York and Chicago. They also hit ATMs in Moscow, Hong Kong and Montreal.

In just 30 minutes the thieves drained more than $9 million from the cash machines.

The FBI said some of the "cashers," the low-level thieves who actually used the cards to withdraw cash, were caught on video.

"We have these two men here in Atlanta who were doing the cashing activity at two of the ATMs. So we think if we can talk to them, that can help us substantially in our case," Special Agent Steve Lazarus of the Atlanta FBI office told WSB-TV.

Card cloning is a simple process if thieves have access to computer records or an original credit or ATM card, according to security experts.

"When we're using a technology as old as a magnetic strip on a card that can easily be duplicated it makes it extremely easy for the criminals to clone our cards and steal our identities," security consultant Chris O'Ferrell told ABC News.

RBS WorldPlay covered the losses of the 100 customers whose cards were cloned, canceled the cards and changed the customers' PINs. They also hired a security consultant to boost their firewalls.

"It was promptly recognized by the company and they promptly shut it down and took corrective action to make sure it wouldn't happen again," said Lazarus.