The heist you haven’t seen in the movies

Want to pull off your own €35m worldwide ATM heist? It might not be that easy, experts say. Paul Wagenseil reports.

THE spectacular €45m (€35m) global scheme uncovered last weekend by US federal prosecutors was cinematically epic, involving hacked prepaid debit cards, dozens of “cashers” simultaneously hitting ATMs in two dozen countries, a staggering cash payoff, and an equally movie-ready mob hit.

But for anyone seeking to replicate the feat, it could take months of planning, deep insider knowledge of financial databases, and top-notch technical abilities.