Bank frauds are as old as the banking system itself. In recent times, however, the Automated Teller Machine (ATM) cards appear to be very attractive to these fraudsters. But how easy is it to track the perpetrators of this fraud and possibly get the stolen monies back? Isioma Madike, who has been following this trend for a long while now, reports
An Automated Teller Machine (ATM) is an electronic banking outlet that allows customers to complete basic transactions without the aid of a branch representative or teller. Anyone with a credit or debit card can access cash at most ATMs. It is convenient as it allows consumers to perform quick self-service transactions such as deposits, cash withdrawals, bill payments, and transfers between accounts.
However, these quick and easy banking transaction methods have, in recent times, become a source of worry to many as fraudsters continue to steal, swap or clown cards from innocent persons, using it to wreak financial havoc on victims on a daily basis. His name is different but he chose to adopt Johnson to protect his identity.
He was attacked by three young men on November 21, 2021, at Demurin Street, Ketu, on his way home from his office about 10.15 pm. After overpowering Johnson, his assailants took his ATM card and other valuables on him. Immediately he got home, Johnson contacted his bank with his telephone, though he is not comfortable mentioning the name of the bank because the case is still on, through its customer care lines and other persons he thought could be reached. But he couldn’t get through to the bank that night.
As he was struggling to get across to the bank, his wife suggested to him to proceed to hospital where he eventually received treatment for minor injuries and trauma caused by the attack. He had his fears, though, that those criminals could tamper with his ATM card before morning. His fears were confirmed a few minutes after they left the hospital. Krinkon, Krinkon, alerts started filtering in.
By the time he summoned courage to check his telephone, he discovered that N157,000 in his account had been wiped out. Incidentally, only N50,000 was withdrawn with the card , with the balance transferred to another bank. “It was just like a film,” he said.
“That was all I had in the account. Unfortunately for me, my house rent of N100,000, which I had planned to send to […]
