I think that this would be a good racket for the mafia to get into.

Reprogram an ATM with custom software that removes more money than is printed out on the receipt. Say if a customer requests to withdraw $20, they get the $20 and the screen on the ATM convinces them that everything is as it should be. In reality the ATM transmitted a $40 withdrawal to their bank and kept half of it. There would be two processes going on, the real ATM transaction between the bank and the ATM, and what the customer sees displayed on the ATM's screen. If the customer really only has $20 in their account, the ATM would be programmed to cancel the initial request for $40 and fulfill their request, this keeps the ATM operating stealthy. I'm sure it would get uncovered eventually. You would have to launder the money through a series of accounts to mask its final destination from investigators.

Anyone out there know of a software engineer with experience programming banking networks who also lacks morals or a sense of ethics?
-- ecolonsmak, Jun 15 2001

Manchester, Connecticut, 1993 http://catless.ncl....ks/14.60.html#subj3
From the Risks Digest. An early and technologically advanced fake ATM. [Uncle Nutsy, Jun 15 2001, last modified Oct 04 2004]

Chiufen, Taiwan, 2000 http://www.taipeiti...15/story/0000065581
As of six months ago, the technique had spread clear to Taiwan. [Uncle Nutsy, Jun 15 2001, last modified Oct 04 2004]

"Lebanese Loop" http://www.snopes.c.../scams/atmtheft.htm
A simpler technique, involving simple tampering with a legitimate ATM. Requires some social engineering, but little tech skill. Maybe this is more your calling, ecolonsmak? [Uncle Nutsy, Jun 15 2001, last modified Oct 04 2004]

One of my buddies who participated in the development of a deterrent explained to me how a major department store was plagued by inventory losses and cash discrepencies that were eventually explained by a grassroot scam that was circulating through the cashiers at the stores. The deal was, the company's mainframe reconized a disconnected plug as a 'no sale', and it was discovered that you could basically give away the store and the money left in the till was yours to keep. One day a bunch of folks got busted.

Lesson: Pigs get slaughtered.
That's my $20 worth. Go fish.
-- reensure, Jun 16 2001


A simpler version of this scam is well and truly Baked. Fraudsters put a fake ATM in a public place, people enter their PIN and the machine records account information and PIN for later fraudulent use. Most such machines report that "your transaction cannot be completed at this time" and return the card once the information is recorded, but some machines actually do return cash to allay suspicions (and stop someone from warning other potential customers that the machine is out of order, no doubt). See links.
-- Uncle Nutsy, Jun 16 2001


I like it. Just one small adjustmant:- Instead of taking 40 out of my account and giving me 20 it takes 0 out of my account and takes 40 out of Bill Gates acount giving me 40. He wouldnt notice or care: 40/32billion is a very small fraction. Sort of like me finding out a penny had disapeard from my account.
-- RobertKidney, Jun 17 2001


The only job I can think of that would pay 1400$ in a day involves airplanes, big bundles of vegetation and people in blue suits with no sense of humor.
-- StarChaser, Jun 17 2001


You make FOURTEEN HUNDRED dollars a day as a support tech? I do need to move.
-- StarChaser, Jun 17 2001


Before you go anywhere, StarChaser, bear in mind that A$1470 = US$771.16, as of 22:05 GMT today.

Still, one heck of a day's work.
-- Uncle Nutsy, Jun 17 2001


I accidently ripped off an ATM once by demanding to withdraw $10 from a machine with a minimal withdrawl of $20.

After inputting the correct minimal withdrawl amount, the machine gave me $40 with only a $20 negative on my statement.
-- mrkillboy, Jun 18 2001


Welcome to halfbanker. mrkillboy, you just got lucky with the wrong outgo into your shaking hands. I got a $100.00 bill out of a machine that was supposed to dispense $20.00 bills only. Just a mis-sort on their part. I then withdrew an additional $180.00 in high hopes of making a killing. No such luck. Oh well!
-- thumbwax, Jun 18 2001


Ok, so it's not 'a job', as I asked. It's a number of various things.
-- StarChaser, Jun 18 2001


Or a variety of numerous things, as the case may be.
-- thumbwax, Jun 19 2001


baked in the uk since ATMs were introduced - you go to the ATM of a different bank and you seem to get charged for a load of bullshit reasons by both banks

actually most industry and commerce in the uk there just doesnt seem to be any competition except against small independent businesses add on apparently massive taxes and rapidly decaying public services (they've been dead for years already) its enough to make you want to move to america or even france anywhere would be better
-- chud, Jan 27 2002



random, halfbakery