Jul 3, 2026
ATMs along a stretch of Interstate 95 in Connecticut turned into targets for a fast-moving theft scheme that federal authorities say drained more than half a million dollars in just two weeks.
Four men used a technique known as “jackpotting” to force machines at rest stops between Darien and New Haven to dispense cash on command, NBC reports.
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In total, eight ATMs were hit, with one machine spitting out about $136,000 in a single haul.
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How the alleged scheme unfolded
Federal officials say the group used a combination of hardware and malware to compromise the machines, essentially tricking them into releasing cash like an overfilled vending machine.
Surveillance images included in the criminal complaint show men taking turns collecting bundles of cash as the ATMs dispensed the money. Other photos, reportedly taken by the suspects themselves, appear to show stacks of cash piled in the back seat of a silver Toyota Highlander used during the thefts.
Connecticut U.S. Attorney David Sullivan said four men face charges including conspiracy and transporting stolen property across state lines. The suspects are identified as: 49-year-old Willian Flores of the Bronx, 41-year-old Alberto Arvilla of Queens, 38-year-old Luis Arvilla of Lynn, Massachusetts, and 28-year-old Euclides Itanare of Raleigh, North Carolina.
The allegations have yet to be proven in court. All four have been ordered held without bail and could face up to 10 years in federal prison if convicted.
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Bank ATMs are usually safer — but not immune
Location plays a big role in ATM security. Machines inside bank branches or directly attached to financial institutions are typically under tighter surveillance and physical control, making them harder to tamper with unnoticed. They’re also more likely to be checked regularly by staff or security systems, which can shorten the window criminals have to interfere with them.
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Standalone ATMs — like those in rest stops, gas stations or convenience stores — can be more exposed. They may not be monitored as closely, and in some cases give criminals more time to work on the machine before anything is detected.
Although precise numbers are hard to track, since banks don’t always report incidents publicly, industry data suggests it’s a growing issue. A 2024 industry estimate put U.S. losses at around $6 million across roughly 200 jackpotting attacks that year.
And while jackpotting is still relatively rare compared with card fraud, ATM-focused crime has been climbing. The ATM Industry Association says reported ATM crime increased roughly 600% between 2019 and 2022, with jackpotting among the tactics driving that rise.
Experts stress there’s no reason to panic. Jackpotting attacks are aimed at the machine itself, not the customer, making it largely a problem for the banks. It can become your problem, however, if banks decide to raise fees to cover their losses or install overbearing security features.
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Laura Grande is a freelance contributor with nearly 15 years of industry experience. Throughout her career she's written about and edited a range of topics, from personal finance and politics to health and pop culture.
