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Ex-Absa employee calls for class action

A former Absa Group [JSE:ASA] employee who is well aware of the dangers of phishing and not protecting passwords is not giving up her search for answers, after R346 900 disappeared from her account. She writes:

I too have been a victim of internet fraud, worst of all I am an ex-staff member of Absa and well aware of the dangers of “phishing” or not protecting your passwords and pins.

To strengthen my case, I called on the help of forensic experts which cost me a further R47 979.

Late afternoon on August 31 2011 I was alerted via SMS of a R10 000 transfer, and assumed it was my husband. He left the office prior to the SMS.

I got home an hour after him – at around 5.30pm – and asked him about the transfer. He had no knowledge of money being transferred.

He also told me that he noticed that his phone had lost reception late that afternoon, but with the pressure of month-end balancing and figures, that was the least of our concerns.

Upon calling telephone banking, I was informed that a total amount of R470 000 was transferred from the access facilities of our joint bond accounts into two linked cheque accounts, and payments to unknown third parties were made totalling R346 900!

Our portfolios – mine, my husband’s and my mother’s – were linked by the local Absa bank branch seeing that I have power of attorney on all these accounts.

Telephone banking immediately stopped the internet banking facility and I was put through to the fraud centre. The lady (I have her details) confirmed she had seen the movements on the accounts during the afternoon but did not find it out of the ordinary.

Was no less than 41 new beneficiaries loaded, I assume that afternoon, and R346 900 transferred not out of the ordinary? I am refused the beneficiary’s details to this day.

Coincidence, I think not?

-    A large share transaction was done a few weeks prior by my mom which went through her Absa Platinum account. Was someone alerted to this?
-    My husband’s cell number is linked to receive the RVN number when transactions are performed on the majority of the shared accounts, and not my personal cell which is linked to contact me on my portfolio. Only if you gain access to my internet banking page or back office portfolio will you obtain such information.
-    Access was gained by an unknown IP address (I can provide these two addresses) on August 25 2011, this is six days before the SIM swap.
-    By gaining access you can see what accounts alert what cell numbers to receive the RVN numbers.
-    At the time of the fraud my mom was conveniently out of the country and could not pick up the SMSs which were sent to her. Timing was too perfect. Who knows when you leave the country and use your banking cards abroad?
-    I live in Cape Town. Cell C performed a SIM swap in a Benoni branch and in writing confirmed that they did not have an ID at the time but identified the person by asking the personal information. Has the South African Police Service (Saps) received the video footage of such a person, and has the Cell C staff member been interrogated?
-    Be that as it may, the fact is that access was gained on August 25 2011 for the first time. If access was prevented, no further fraud could have taken place.
-    Cell C is as much at fault for performing a fraudulent SIM swap and should take equal responsibility for my loss and quite frankly bizarre financial position my household is left with.

To date my claim has been denied by Absa, and supported by the Ombudsman of Banking who bases decisions on assumptions and past experiences, as clearly worded in their letter to me.

To date I am yet to receive progress from Saps! Do the cases mostly concern Absa?

I suggest we stand together and take class action against the bank(s) and against the cell service providers! If anyone is prepared to stand together or can assist me in my fight, please let me know.

(To protect the user, who does not want to be named, you can direct your emails to her through Fin24.)

 - Fin24

 
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