KUCHING, Jan 27: The Ombudsman for Financial Services (OFS) is being urged to take prompt action following a case where a woman in Kuching lost RM47,415.93 due to unauthorised bank account withdrawals.
Special assistant to Democratic Action Party (DAP) Sarawak chairman Chong Chieng Jen, Sim Kiat Leng in a statement today said the victim, who only wanted to be known as Madam Sim, on Nov 14, 2023 informed that she was told by a bank officer that a sum of RM47,415.93 was transferred from her savings account without her knowledge.
According to Sim, the victim does not engage in internet banking and she routinely updates her saving account booklet over the bank counter.
“On Nov 14, 2023, when she visited the bank to update her savings account, she was informed that the system has shown a loan of RM44,300 was taken up through her credit card and transferred into her savings account.
“Thereafter, the amount together with the balance in her savings account totalling RM47,415.93 was transferred out from her savings account without her knowledge and authorisation,” he said.
Sim emphasised that the unauthorised transactions happened in a single day.
He also questioned how could the bank give out loans on her credit card without the cardholder’s knowledge and approval.
He added that after being informed of the incident, Madam Sim has lodged a police report and a formal complaint to the bank.
However, he said, the bank informed Madam Sim that it would not compensate her as the bank was unable to recover the sum from the third party.
“On the contrary, the Bank is now demanding Madam Sim to pay the outstanding balance in her credit card account, a loan that she had never taken up,” said Sim. — DayakDaily
