How Ghosts in China withdrew money from my A/C Sterling Bank Nigeria

On 06-Sep-2014 around 0100 Hrs i got unusual SMS alerts, I powered my Laptop to confirm exactly what was happening from the email alerts, which are usually more detailed containing things like time stamp, point of withdrawal break down of charges etc.  I got 4 SMS and email alerts that is NGN 66,991.90 *2 and N240 * 2 as the ATM charges. Bottom line, I lost over $820.  After confirming indeed I have lost money at around 0120 hours I called my bank’s customer care to inform them of what has happened and to suspend my card immediately. My card was suspended and as usual they promised ‘to get to the bottom of the matter’ and get back to me by the next working day which was 08-September-2014.

To cut the long story short, I did not hear anything again from their customer care department until when I walked to their branch in Adeola Odeku sometimes I guess on 02-Oct-2014. Amazingly, staffs at their branch were ‘shocked’ and referred me to another branch on the roundabout of Eko hotels where my account is domiciled.  On the same email I forwarded to their customer care department, copied where their E-banking and ATM disputes departments. Sometimes on 09-Sep-2014 one of their staff from E-Banking replied one of my mails persuading me to be patient because they have initiated a chargeback transaction.

On27-Oct-2014 I decided to raise the matter with another of their branch situated at 51, Saka Tinubu. I narrated my issue to one of their staff on who, to my own opinion he deserves an award for displaying exemplary customer service skills and high level of attentiveness. He promised to escalate that issue and before end of the week he will get back to me. That same day he called me and informed me that I have to come back to their branch so that I can fill a charge back form. The following day I got a call again that I should come and have a chat with the branch manager. I was like ‘these people are have now become serious’ …serious Ke’…?

Upon meeting the branch manager at 51, Saka Tinubu, he informed me that from their investigations a PIN was used to withdraw the money and it seems I compromised my card and it is very unlikely they will be refunding my money. I did not take it lightly for I felt this is a case of shifting blame to escape liability.  I argued that: it can be a case of an inside job or VISA systems have been compromised or it the normal cyber criminals…wherever the case that is none of my business.