Mexican arrested in Honduras for hacking ATMs, authorities investigate further irregular withdrawals

Honduran police apprehended a 25-year-old Mexican man in San Pedro Sula for allegedly hacking automated teller machines (ATMs) and stealing more than 100,000 pesos. The man, from Culiacán, was arrested in the act by the Directorate of Police Investigations, in coordination with INTERPOL Honduras and community security units.

Authorities stated the suspect was detained near an ATM on the Boulevard del Norte after a bank's security department detected irregular transactions. Investigations revealed the man was allegedly involved in a criminal scheme manipulating ATM computer systems. Police explained that suspects gain access to an ATM's internal system and then use an algorithm and a mobile phone program to send authorization codes for cash withdrawals, bypassing the need for bank cards.

The first incident was reported at an ATM in San Pedro Sula, where multiple anomalous transactions occurred. Hours later, the bank's security system issued an alert in the Los Álamos sector, where the accused allegedly used the same method to withdraw a significant sum.

Police confiscated 190,000 lempiras (approximately 123,837 Mexican pesos) in cash and a Google cell phone, believed to be used in the hacking. Investigations suggest this method was used at various ATMs in San Pedro Sula, prompting authorities to explore potential accomplices and the full extent of the stolen funds. The Mexican national is now in the custody of Honduran authorities.