The wanted suspects in Fairfax County.

By Zak Failla From Daily Voice

A crew of high-tech thieves turned a Virginia ATM into a late-night cash geyser, walking away with $175,000 after cracking open the machine, filming themselves, and forcing it to spit out bills without ever inserting a card, according to Fairfax County Police.

Detectives say the group hit the Apple Federal Credit Union ATM on Members Way near Fair Oaks three separate times in one night, using a scheme known as ATM jackpotting — a cyber-physical attack that makes a machine “rapidly dispense cash on command,” similar to hitting a slot machine jackpot.

Police released images showing the suspects pulling up in a late-model blue Jeep, opening the ATM with a key, and recording the crime as the cash flowed.

According to investigators, the first suspect approached the drive-up ATM at 10:18 p.m. on Oct. 3 and used a key to open the machine. Police said it’s still unclear what he did once he accessed the interior.

He returned at 12:28 a.m. on Oct. 4 in the same blue Jeep and again opened the ATM.

Around 1:15 a.m., two suspects — including the original individual — came back in the same Jeep and accessed the machine for about 15 minutes while appearing to record it with their phones.

At 2:00 a.m., an unmasked suspect stood at the ATM and began withdrawing cash without inserting a card or touching the machine. 

Police said he held a phone toward the ATM as the bills dispensed. He briefly left and returned at 2:09 a.m., remaining until 2:44 a.m. as the withdrawals continued.

Apple Federal Credit Union later discovered the machine had been drained of $175,000.

ATM jackpotting attacks involve compromising a machine through malware or a device that overrides its security, allowing thieves to trigger nonstop cash withdrawals once they gain physical access.

Detectives from the Financial Crimes Unit are asking anyone who recognizes the suspects or the Jeep to call 703-691-2131 or submit a tip anonymously through Crime Solvers.