How Hackers drained youth rugby club’s bank account

Summary:

• The Maryland Exiles Youth Rugby Club in Sandy Spring, Maryland, faces financial hardship after hackers stole thousands from their bank account, forcing them to cancel a tournament trip. Despite efforts to recover the funds, they’re met with obstacles. Now, they’re raising money to compete elsewhere while reinforcing security measures.

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The Maryland Exiles Youth Rugby Club, known for its inclusive spirit, is grappling with a setback beyond the field.

With open arms, the Maryland Exiles Youth Rugby Club welcomes all who wish to engage in the sport.

“I appreciate rugby’s inclusivity; it’s a sport for everyone, regardless of size or background,” remarked player Eric Ishekwene.

“It’s like a fusion of various sports—soccer, football—and the community aspect makes it enjoyable,” added player Ellie Calderone.

However, the club finds itself excluded from a tournament in North Carolina due to a cyberattack on their Cash App and Sandy Spring Bank accounts. Hackers siphoned thousands of dollars, compelling the team to cancel their tournament plans.

“Our bank account was breached, and $300 was withdrawn every 15 minutes for three consecutive days,” explained coach Dan Soso.

In total, the hackers made off with over $17,000. Efforts to recover the losses have hit obstacles.

“It’s disheartening. We worked hard to raise that money, and now it’s gone,” lamented player Jasper Chesterfield.

Despite reaching out to Sandy Spring Bank and Cash App, the coaches received no resolution.

Responding to inquiries, Sandy Spring Bank stated its inability to discuss specific cases, citing the rise in third-party app fraud. Cash App emphasized its safety measures but declined to comment on individual cases.

“Scammers target nonprofits, churches, schools, and organizations,” warned Angie Barnett, CEO of the Better Business Bureau.

To safeguard accounts, Barnett advised limiting peer-to-peer app transactions to trusted sources and enabling heightened security measures.

“We didn’t want the kids to bear the brunt of the financial strain,” expressed coach Jen Putman.

The club is now striving to replenish funds for an alternate tournament in April. They’ve closed their Cash App account and bolstered security protocols to forestall future breaches.

“As the exiles, we’ll persevere to reclaim what’s ours and raise more through fundraisers,” vowed Ishekwene.

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