$45 Million in Just Hours, Cyberthieves target ATMs worldwide.

On Dec. 21, the “cashing crews” made 4,500 A.T.M. transactions worldwide, stealing $5 million, according to the indictment.

After securing 12 account numbers for cards issued by the Bank of Muscat in Oman and raising the withdrawal limits, the cashing crews were set in motion. Starting at 3 p.m., the crews made 36,000 transactions and withdrew about $40 million from machines in the various countries in about 10 hours. In New York City alone, a team of eight people made 2,904 withdrawals, stealing $2.4 million.

Surveillance photos of one suspect hitting various A.T.M.’s showed the man’s backpack getting heavier and heavier, Ms. Lynch said, comparing the robbery to the caper at the center of the movie “Ocean’s 11.”

The authorities said the leader of the New York cashing crew was Alberto Lajud-Pena, 23, who also went by the name Prime. His body was found in the Dominican Republic on April 27 and prosecutors said they believe he was killed.

Seven other people were charged with conspiracy to commit “access device fraud” and money laundering. The prosecutors said they were all American citizens and were based in Yonkers.

Source: New York Times, OxBridge Research, Daily Stock Deals