The banking sector is arguable one of the most important sector in the Nigerian economy, and it definitely isn’t one that any individual with a bank account can joke with.
It is basically a place we put our hard-earned money while TRUSTING the fact that it will be there when we need it. Banks are usually equipped with high security standards (or they are supposed to), so all an individual needs to do is get their money safely into their account and the bank staff will do the rest.
But what happens when your trusted money safe-house not only cost you to lose close to a Million Naira, but they tell you that there is absolutely nothing they can do about it.
A Diamond Bank user recently complained that he was defrauded of about N818,000 and when he placed a complaint, he was told there is nothing they can do about it.
Here’s his story;
“Please I’m going through serious pains right now & I really need help on the way Forward.
I opened a Salary Account with Diamond Bank in September 2012 to keep funds for my wife as I was travelling for my M.Sc program in the United Kingdom this January 2013.
I applied for internet banking to be able to make transfers in December 2012 paying the exorbitant amount of N4,900 Naira which they told me was for a token device which would secure my account from fraud.
As at April this year, from Salary Inflows and other Deposits, I had a Total of About 820,000 Naira in the Account.
I woke up on the 23rd of April 2013 to see multiple debit alerts from my account with my so-called secure token still in my bag here in the UK.
I immediately Emailed the Bank on the fraudulent withdrawal and received only an auto-response.
With the lack of reply, I called their customer care line (at the expensive international rates!) and after waiting through the long interactive voice response process finally got to speak to someone.
The person who answered said they were going to take on the case and I kept getting new responses anytime I called back.
It was a day later after angrily speaking to the person who gave me another assorted “canned” reply that I was given a phone number which I SHOULD CALLto get the matter resolved.
When I called, I spoke to a certain Mr Ifeyemi who said they are investigating the matter and also asked me a series of questions to support the investigation.
Based on the outcome of the so-called investigation, the bank is telling me stories that an email was sent to my laptop which took the money (HOW ON EARTH DOES THAT HAPPEN)
I AM NOW BEING TOLD BY DIAMOND BANK THAT I WOULD BE THE ONE TO LOOK FOR THE FRAUDSTERS AND THEY ARE NOT LIABLE FOR ANY DAMAGES.
THE ACCOUNTS WHERE MY HARD-EARNED MONEY WAS TRANSFERRED TO ARE ALL INDICATED,
ISN’T A BANK WHICH SOLD ME A PRODUCT WHICH IS SECURE SUPPOSED TO FREEZE THE ACCOUNTS WHERE MY MONEY WAS TRANSFERRED TO PENDING INVESTIGATION SINCE I REPORTED THE FRAUD IMMEDIATELY?
HOW WAS MY MONEY SIPHONED FROM MY ACCOUNT WITH MY TOKEN SECURELY HERE WITH ME?
SHOULD I SUSPECT STAFF OF THE BANK FOR THIS?
IS THIS BANK NOT LIABLE FOR THIS FRAUD ON MY ACCOUNT AND REFUND OF MY FUNDS?
I really need help on a way forward for this, who do I report to? Should I sue this fraudulent bank and report them to other regulatory bodies?
Who can sort me out of this MESS?
My wife is stranded in Nigeria
I am stranded in the United Kingdom,
And the Bank which claims to be “There for you” is trying to avoid all responsibility for the occurrence after I have paid for a “secure token”
We should not allow such injustice as this go on. I have played my part as a media representative to publicize this story, and it is up to you guys to share and make sure this issue gets the attention of someone who can actually do something about this.
We should raise our voice and say “NO” when such unfair and costly treatment is meted out on our fellow human being, because it could be YOU tomorrow.
I’d leave you with one of my very favorite quote by Edmond Burke:
”All that is necessary for the triumph of evil is that good men do nothing.”
Source: Olamide Oni
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