ABSA Internet Banking Account Hacking and ongoing ********** Activities

In 2015 my internet banking account with ABSA was hacked and a substantial amount of funds were ****** from my savings and cheque account. It was on a Friday evening in September 2015 as I was in bed asleep when I received a call from ABSA informing me that there has been irregularities identified on my account and the account was closed. I was asked if I have responded to any phishing emails and I denied responding to any spam or phishing emails.

The very next day I opened a case with the SAPS of what had happened and used the case number to open an forest investigation with ABSA Bank into the matter. I was then informed by ABSA that a SIM swap was done on my cell phone account that is with Vodacom and hereby the hackers got access to my account and created benefitiaries to which the funds were transferred after hours and to accounts with other banking institutions. Vodacom admitted in writing the a SIM swap was done on my cell phone number without my knowing and permission. The ABSA Internet Banking/Vodacom security system was bridged by the hackers.

I immediately questioned the modus operandi of the sequence of events as the investigation continued by ABSA and the SAPS. With the forensic investigation conducted by ABSA it became clear from the start that it is very one sided affair as no new or any additional information was ever requested from me and not once was my PC analysed for phishing related emails as was the basis of the bridge of the security system that I was accused of.

After waiting patienly for the investigation to take its course the results evenly came back and it became very clear that the bank is not prepared to take any accountability or responsibility for the matter. The feedback was very one sided and did not consider or take into account many of the facts around the incident. I also asked for the forensic report(s) but was refused a copy.

Questions about FICA compliance of the accounts used, how does funds get transferred after hours on a weekend and getting cleared to external bank accounts, no proof provided of responding/clicking on phishing emails allegation etc has not been answered by the banking institution. Being an ABSA Client and also a Private banking Client for a very long time the frustration and disappointment started to grow exponentially. Increased activity w.r.t. to my account that resulted in Forex and Local account transfers to ********** bank accounts and beneficiaries emulating to even more financial loss incurred on my side.

The frustration is that neither the SAPS nor ABSA is willing to resolve the matters on my account and also I am of the strong believe that access to my bank account activities and available balances are being obtained either internal to ABSA or external or a combination of both.

Proof of very strange communication received by the perceived ******** when certain account queries or when balances reach a certain level has been given to ABSA and the response has been the same i.e. non responsive and not accepting any accountability etc.

The banking ombudsman has bee approached on more than one attempt with the response being basically a cut and paste response that the bank is not responsible liable etc.

till today the ******** are contacting me with very strange communication etc that I believe has got all the signs of being related to the ********** activities related to my ABSA account.

I feel completely powerless as I eventually approached SABRIC for assistance and although the helping ear has been provided the same results are being aired. I is being labeled the faceless crime and is happening as we speak and seemingly nothing is being done to battle and stop the situation.

What is even more frustrating is when certain people that basically got ****med the same way managed to get their funds back as per the local media reports and when the bank is questioned about this the response is merely that the situation and conditions are different. In what way is the question from my side

One of the many questions that is not yet answered by ABSA Bank is that why is my banking cost not catering for the insurance of my hard earned money that has been ****** form me by faceless *********. When are they going to strike again?