First Bank Officials Conspire with fraudsters to falsify receivers Identification Cards
As Nigerians abroad send money to their love ones this yuletide season, officials of First Bank have also devised corrupt means of fraudulently stealing money sent to their families and friends.
Fraud is one of the greatest challenges to progress in every sector in Nigeria, swindling consumers of their money by fraudulent bank officials is now a booming business across Nigeria.
PSN investigation showed that when Nigerians in Diaspora sends money to their relatives and friends in Nigeria through the Money Gram or Western Union, some bank officials in complicity with some crooks, give out details of receivers, falsifying Identification cards to pick up their monies. Over 4 cases has been reported this yuletide involving First BANK officials.
According to one of the victims, “On December 15, 2012 I wired $300 through Money Gram to my Aunt in Benin City, Nigeria.” About 4 hours later, I called and gave her the Reference Number #72914011. She proceeded to the First Bank Branch, at Mission Road in Benin City to pick up the fund.
She was however shock to be informed by the paying bank staff that the Reference number was not good. At that time it was 3am local time in California, so I told her that once Money Gram opens later in the morning I will call their office. At around 9am California time I called Money Gram, and was told the money was picked up about 5 hours ago, which was exactly the same time my aunt was in the bank. The strange thing to me is that the officials of the bank refused to show my aunt the identification used to pick up the money, neither were they helpful in retrieving the money back. It is unfortunate to lose money like that, especially money intended for their Christmas season holidays.
According to Gutierrez Mike of the Money Gram Corporate office in Dallas, Texas, who told the PSN that, “We work extensively with Law Enforcement agencies to reduce the menace of fraud, especially when it involves our customers. It is unfortunate that we have to work with regulations in different countries.
He confirmed receipt of several allegations of clients losing their monies especially during this Christmas season with their agent banks in Nigeria.
Recently two officials of Skye Bank Plc, Agodi, Ibadan branch, was arraigned before a chief magistrate’s court on a three-count charge of forgery and stealing.
According to the charge, the bank officials, Funmi Adekanbi and Adebukola Ademola, were accused of conspiring to commit felony including forgery and stealing, thereby committing an offence contrary to and punishable under Section 516 of the Criminal Code Cap 38 Voll. II Laws of Oyo State of Nigeria 2000.
They were accused of forging the name of Kazeem Oludare Olukunle on a Western Union Money Transfer form to receive money with the intent to steal, contrary to and punishable under Section 467 of the Criminal Code Cap 38 Voll. II Laws of Oyo State of Nigeria 2000 were further accused of unlawfully and fraudulently stealing $3,300 being property of one Rotimi Onadipe and thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 383 and punishable under Section 390 (a) of the Criminal Code Cap 38 Voll. II Laws of Oyo State of Nigeria 2000.
Source: Persecondnews.com
