ROCKVILLE, Md. — The Maryland Exiles Youth Rugby club said it has been struggling since hackers emptied their back account in September, over the course of two weeks.
Coach Tom Smith told WUSA9 the hackers made dozens of undetected transactions, withdrawing $300 at a time from a cloned CashApp account. In total, they stole $17,000.
Since then, the team has been relying on the community to get back on their feet.
“It has opened our eyes," Smith said. "When you’re in need, let your community know. We’ve been humbled by how much the community has rallied around us."
The money hackers stole is used to fund team events, and provide scholarships to players in need.
This weekend, the team is having a 3-day rugby event called "Ruck n Roll" to raise funds for the rest of their season.
The community will be able to watch teams from across the region in action, on the the field.
There will also be a chance for people of all ages to learn about the sport and play.
"We’ll have rugby gear we’re selling and that will go back to supporting our team," Smith said.
Smith told WUSA9 the investigation into the hacking is still ongoing, but it does not appear they’ll be getting a refund.
If you’re unable to attend the event but would still like to support the team, they are still accepting donations.
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