FBI Warns of Rising 'Jackpotting' ATM Scams Causing $20M in Losses

Hackers exploit ATM vulnerabilities to force cash dispensers to spit out money without transactions.

Published on Feb. 20, 2026

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The Federal Bureau of Investigation has issued a bulletin warning about a rise in 'jackpotting' ATM scams across the country. Hackers are exploiting physical and software vulnerabilities in ATMs to force the machines to dispense cash without the need for a customer transaction. The FBI says these attacks resulted in over $20 million in losses last year, with about 1,900 incidents identified since 2020.

Why it matters

ATM jackpotting scams pose a growing threat to banks and financial institutions, resulting in significant financial losses. The attacks bypass traditional ATM security measures, highlighting the need for improved physical and digital safeguards to protect these critical pieces of financial infrastructure.

The details

Jackpotting schemes typically involve hackers using 'widely available general keys' to open an ATM's face and remove the hard drive. They then upload malware to override the ATM's security or replace the hard drive entirely with a compromised device. This malware 'interacts directly with the ATM hardware, bypassing any communications or security of the original ATM software.' The attacks result in losses for banks rather than individual customers, since they do not target specific accounts or exploit PIN numbers.

  • The FBI has identified about 1,900 jackpotting incidents across the country since 2020.
  • The FBI bulletin was issued on Thursday, February 20, 2026.

The players

Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI)

The primary federal law enforcement agency of the United States, responsible for investigating a variety of crimes including financial fraud and cybercrime.

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What’s next

The FBI is urging the public to be on the lookout for signs of ATM tampering, such as evidence of a foreign USB device being plugged into the machine, and to report any suspicious activity to the authorities.

The takeaway

The rise in ATM jackpotting scams highlights the need for financial institutions and ATM operators to strengthen physical and digital security measures to protect these critical pieces of infrastructure from increasingly sophisticated hacking attempts.