ATM Hackers Are Draining Machines at Record Pace—And Your Bank May Not Tell You
Criminals are breaking into ATMs across the US at an accelerating rate, forcing machines to spit out all their cash in what's called "jackpotting." The FBI just revealed that over 700 of these heists happened in 2025 alone—already matching the total for the previous four years combined—with thieves walking away with more than $20 million. If you've ever wondered why your bank's ATM was suddenly "out of service" or why fees keep creeping up, this surge in sophisticated attacks is part of the answer.
Bottom Line
ATM jackpotting has gone from a niche cybercrime curiosity to a full-blown nationwide problem in 2025, with attack rates tripling and no sign of slowing. The machines most at risk are older, standalone units in unsecured locations—but even newer ATMs aren't immune if operators haven't kept software updated. While your money in the bank is insured and safe, the practical impact is fewer working ATMs, lower cash limits, and higher fees as the industry scrambles to harden targets. This is a solvable problem—software patches and physical security upgrades work—but implementation is lagging behind the threat.