Something very phishy at Absa Bank : too many of us have been victims of *****.

On 2o November I was locked out of internet banking. Absa website advised I would not be allowed access unless I downloaded an App to my cellphone for 2 factor banking. This is supposedly a measure to provide further protection for Absa clients. I was reluctant but I had to transfer funds that day so I was forced to download the APP. I struggled for some time trying to do the transfer with this new, unfami**** APP and the Absa website would still not allow access. Whilst doing this, I received an email purporting to be from Absa asking me to download Fica documents. I assumed that this was the reason why I was not able to transact. I accessed the site from the email link and uploaded my Fica docs (ID, Proof of Residence). Immediately thereafter, I went back to internet banking and was suddenly able to transact. The following morning at 10 am while collecting my husband from hospital, I received a phone call on my cellphone from Absa ***** Dept asking if I had made a huge payment that morning. I said no, that couldn't be possible because I did not have that value in my account. The person then told me that the funds were transferred from my Absa linked Investment account into my current account and then transferred out. The person instructed me to contact my branch. I then checked my phone for notifications and only then saw a message which had come in earlier that morning. I went directly to my Absa branch at The Glen. The consultant advised that my account was frozen and the ABSA account of the ***** (a young man of 18) was also frozen. She further advised that my funds were ALL safely in the account of the 18 year old and I should liaise with Absa ***** Div., complete the ***** dept documents and open a case with SAPS. I then had the banking app on my phone de-activated because I believed it had somehow allowed this to come about. On 26 November 2017, I was able to access my internet banking again, and saw that an amount of R109, 085.25 had been credited to my account. There was no notification from Absa ***** explaining why this amount was refunded. It was also only then that I established that the amount which had been ****** was R161,020.00. This leaves a shortfall of R51,934.75. Absa have now advised they will not be paying this difference. They say "No evidence could be found to suggest that the bank was negligent or involved in the compromise of your details and as such mentioned cannot accept liability." I have placed Absa in trust with my money for over 30 years. How can the bank pick up the ***** so quickly AFTER it happens? They can pick it up just as easy beforehand with indicators such as a client suddenly changing contact details, cleaning out a large savings/investment, creating new beneficiary …etc etc.