ABSA *****

I received an SMS warning me that a logon from a new location was being made on my account and someone from Somerset West was trying to put a R10000 amount through for an airline ticket and to contract Absa ***** Division. I never did because we have been warned of *****sters using this method to hack. Later that afternoon I received a call showing on my phone as ABSA ***** Division and when I answered I got the automated ***** Division message. I was asked to open my app to see whether the last 3 transactions were done by me and whether the balance was correct. I told her it was. She told me we had to secure my account and due to the fact that a friend and Financial Advisor friend never invested my funds as he should have I lost R1.5 plus interest so I was nervous of losing more money so followed her instructions. On several occasions I challenged her because I was unsure the call was authentic and every time she assured me she was doing her job and needed to secure my account. While I was still busy with the lady I received a call from ABSA ***** Division. I told her I was already busy with them and she told me it wasn't them. I had already "moved" my money to a "safe" place. Needless to say the first caller was a *****ster. The bank did an investigation and called me after two weeks to tell me they cannot re-imburse me as the *****ulent beneficiary account which was in my name is empty - obviously it would be. They told me that my account wasn't hacked and that I made the payment personally so they couldn't pay my money back. I'm a 72 year old Pensioner and the amount was very substantial. In hindsight I should have put the phone down and gone to the bank personally but how was I to know the call was not authentic. Absa told me they would never give instructions to anyone but again how was I to know that. I am very disappointed as I would have thought they had insurance or something to cover their clients. They know who the perpetrator is and all they have done is blocked their account which has a zero balance and have reported them to the Financial Board so they can't open another account. Nothing stopping someone else opening an account for them. Apparently when creating a beneficiary the account number does not have to officially belong to that beneficiary so I guess they can open an account on any name. Long ago the account number was verified with the account holder but obviously with the new technology that is no longer the case. ABSA will not be worried if I change to another bank as I don't own millions. I am very concerned other people could be ****med. I was vulnerable and they had my ID and other information about me.