Turkish hacker who stole $55 million from ATMs pleads guilty in US federal court

A Turkish hacker who U.S. prosecutors say masterminded a series of cyber attacks that enabled $55 million to be siphoned from automated teller machines around the world pleaded guilty on March 1.

Ercan F?nd?ko?lu, 34, pleaded guilty in federal court in Brooklyn, New York, to five counts including computer intrusion conspiracy for leading a scheme that resulted in stolen debit card data being distributed and used to make fraudulent ATM withdrawals worldwide.

Prosecutors have called the scheme one of the most successful and coordinated bank heists in history, enabling in one particular attack in 2013 the withdrawal of $40 million from ATMs in 24 countries in a matter of about 10 hours.

F?nd?ko?lu, who authorities say was a leader in the scheme and was known online as "Segate" and "Predator," was extradited in June 2015 from Germany, where he was arrested in December 2013.

The plea was confirmed by the office of Brooklyn U.S. Attorney Robert Capters and by Christopher Madiou, Findikoglu's lawyer. He declined further comment.

Prosecutors said from 2010 to 2013, hackers including Findikoglu gained access to the networks of prepaid debit card payment processors Fidelity National Information Services Inc, ElectraCard Services, now owned by MasterCard Inc, and enStage.

Once in, the hackers caused the prepaid cards' account balances to be dramatically increased to allow large excess withdrawals, prosecutors said.

A group managed by F?nd?ko?lu then disseminated the stolen debit card information to "cashing crews" around the world who in turn conducted tens of thousands of fraudulent ATM withdrawals.

In exchange, F?nd?ko?lu and other high-ranking members of the scheme received proceeds in various forms,...