OMAHA, Neb.–Credit unions have been among the victims of organized crime groups who have been targeting ATMs across Nebraska using “jackpotting” tactics to steal significant amounts of money.
As the CU Daily has reported, jackpotting involves the installation of malware that allows the criminals to take control of the ATM and force it to essentially surrender all of its money.
According to an investigation by KETV, its review of numerous court filings in recent months, including one in September that included surveillance images of two men targeting Trius FCU ATMs in Kearney, Neb. shows how widespread and blatant the crime has become.
Taking Selfies
In the Trius FCU case, the criminals can be seen breaking into the ATM and taking selfies with a large wad of cash, KETV said.
The FBI told the news outlet the crime requires teams and organized groups.
“It takes a lot of technical know-how,” Kowel said. “It takes teams. We see this done by organized groups.”
The documents reviewed by KETV allege the suspects, one of whom has been arrested, stole about $300,000 from two ATMs over the course of one day.
The arrested suspect, from Venezuela, is now on an ICE hold and waiting on removal proceedings, KETV reported.
Illegal Aliens Behind Scheme
The FBI told KETV the majority of cases involve people in the U.S. illegally.
KETV said it uncovered documents showing three Dundee Bank ATMs lost nearly $125,000 combined in March and April 2025 in Omaha.
“Unfortunately, fraud in our banks is becoming a bigger and bigger reality, and jackpotting is one of those,” Richard Baier, the CEO of the Nebraska Bankers Association, told the news outlet.
Baier told KETV criminals are using multiple tactics to gain access, including dressing as ATM repair workers and buying ATM access keys, which can be found online.
Suspicious Guys in Khakis
“If you saw a white van pulled up next to an ATM and folks in khakis and in a polo shirt, you might think that they were working on the device, but they’re not,” Baier told the news outlet.
KETV reported that a recent indictment filed in the U.S. District Court of Nebraska lists more than 30 names who are accused of targeting more than two dozen financial institutions and stealing nearly $2.2 million.
