ATMs in Hong Kong were used as part of a global plot in which 'cloned' debit cards were used to steal US$9 million in just 30 minutes.
Police have confirmed that Hong Kong was among 49 cities in which a gang targeted debit accounts held by RBS WorldPay - the North American payment-processing division of British financial-services giant The Royal Bank of Scotland Group.
The thefts on November 8 were made possible by a sophisticated attack on RBS WorldPay's computer system.
The hackers are thought to have got their hands on the account details of up to 1.5 million customers. The details of certain accounts were then copied onto about 100 blank debit cards, which were then distributed to so-called cashers stationed around the world.
The scale of the theft only became apparent after news reports in the United States revealed that what had previously been described as a hacking attack was in fact a very well planned and executed theft. ATMs in Montreal, Moscow and numerous US cities were among those targeted.
In addition to breaking through RBS WorldPay's security systems, the people at the centre of the plot were able to increase the maximum withdrawal limits for the cards during the period of the robbery.
