The central bank is set to send in probe teams to banks today (Sunday) to investigate the complaints of surreptitious withdrawal of money from clients' accounts through hi-tech burglary now.
"We'll send inspection teams for probing such complaints to different banks, if necessary," Bangladesh Bank (BB) spokesperson Shubhankar Saha told the FE on Saturday evening.
Sources, however, said the BB decided to send the probe teams to three private commercial banks (PCBs) today (Sunday) for investigation into the complaints. The three are United Commercial Bank, the City Bank and Eastern Bank.
Mr. Saha, Executive Director of the BB, said the central bank had already asked the banks to beef up security of their ATM (Automated Teller Machine) booths across the country to avoid such heist.
"The banks will have to compensate their clients who have lost money, if the central bank finds any negligence by the banks concerned," the BB spokesperson noted.
The BB officials apprehended that hackers had made duplicate debit cards using data that were snatched away from at least four ATM booths of different banks with scanning device.
The hackers used cap on their heads while entering the ATM booths only to hide their faces to avert security cameras installed inside the booths, they added.
Currently, around 8.5 million debit cards along with 0.5 million credit ones are being used across the country, according to the central bankers.
"No one will be spared if found involved in the glitch," a BB official warned.
The Eastern Bank Limited (EBL) had to close down all its ATMs for six hours- from 12noon to 6:0pm-Friday after 'freak transactions' were reported by several accountholders.
At present, around 7,000 ATM booths are in operation across the country.
"Our management will take effective measures after receiving investigation report in this connection today (Sunday),"
EBL Head of Communications Ziaul Karim told the FE, without elaborating.
The incident of such financial crime came as a matter of serious worry for the debit and credit cardholders who sought enough security for the money.
"We keep money in bank mainly on security grounds….how such money is being looted from the ATM booths despite having tight security measures," Sajedul Karim, who works at a government entity, said.
He said the government's department concerned should provide them enough security for their hard-earned money.
siddique.islam@gmail.com
BB sends probe teams to three banks as worry grips clients
Siddique Islam | Published: February 14, 2016 00:00:00 | Updated: February 01, 2018 00:00:00
Share if you like