EBL returns money to affected clients for ATM fraud

Eastern Bank Limited (EBL) on Thursday provided compensation to its clients whose money was withdrawn from ATM booths in the city by using fake cards, reports UNB.

 

The EBL authority formally handed over cheques to its five affected clients out of 24 at a function at Bangladesh Bank. The compensation amount of Tk 17.53 lakh for the remaining affected clients was paid through their respective accounts.

 

Addressing the function, Mahbuba Aktar, who received a cheque of Tk 80,000 as compensation, urged the EBL to be more careful about the ATM banking.

 

She however expressed her frustration over the incidents and said she is still thinking whether she would continue her transaction using cards.

 

The other four EBL clients who received the compensation cheques of different amount are Shasifuzzaman, Kamreuzzaman, Abu Musa Tariq and Depon Chandra Dey.

 

Bangladesh Bank deputy governor Nazneen Sultana, who was chief guest at the function, said the banking sector has been saved from a big disaster by checking the rogue transaction at the ATM booths.

 

She observed that with an increased use of digital technology, its adversity is also increasing. "But we have to advance by facing the challenges through taking more security measures."

 

She directed the country's all banks to keep updating their digital technology in banking sector in order to ensure clients' security more.

 

Mentioning the fraudulent incident at ATM booths as an unexpected and unpleasant one, EBL additional managing director Hasan-Ur-Rashid said they were regretful for such incident.

 

Urging the EBL clients not to lose confidence in the bank, he said EBL authorities have been making its best efforts to check any such incidents.

 

Bangladesh Bank executive director Subhanker Saha said the central bank immediately stopped all transactions of the card of particular clients as soon as it came to their notice.

 

Bangladesh Bank payment system department's general manager Iskandar Mia appreciated the bank's clients' positive attitude, which helped the central bank take immediate measures.

 

He also urged the banks to employ more efficient and trained security guards at the ATM booths to ensure booths' safety and security.

 

Miscreants withdrew money from a number of ATM booths of EBL last week by using duplicate cards of some of its clients.

 

The miscreants used duplicate cards collecting information of clients' cards and PIN numbers through installing video camera and skimming devices.

 

Following the incidents, the central bank directed the EBL to take measures to compensate its affected clients.

 

It also directed all the banks to install anti-skimming devices, conduct regular monitoring of video footage, and not to allow any unauthorized persons to install any new devices or repair any such devices in the ATM booths.

 

Especially, the security guards have to remain alert to protect the ATM booths from such crimes, said the Bangladesh Bank.