Etete man robbed of R5 000 at rigged ATM in Ballito

While attempting to draw cash, a 56-year-old Etete man had R5 000 stolen from his bank account at an ATM that had been tampered with right outside a local bank.

Selvan Govender recalls a man fiddling with an ATM at ABSA Ballito Junction before he tried to withdraw cash from the machine on September 29.

The machine spat out his card and he tried again.

As Govender tried to insert his card again, the man who had been ahead of him came back.

“He grabbed my hand and forced it to the top of the machine, with my bank card,” said Govender. He shouted at the man, who fled.

“Before I could put the card back in, the ATM asked if I would like to continue with the same transaction. I was not asked for my PIN,” said Govender, who then had his card swallowed by the ATM.

Govender headed into the bank to find out what had happened, as no security had been stationed at the ATMs.

There he learnt that R5 000 had been withdrawn from his account.

“They could not show me from which ATM the cash had been withdrawn, only that it apparently was not an ABSA ATM.”

Govender asked to see video footage of the incident, however this request was denied and he was told to open a case with the police, which would aid him in opening a case with the bank’s fraud department.

The bank said it could not phone the police on Govender’s behalf.

Umhlali Saps communications officer, Captain Vinny Pillay confirmed that a case of cash theft had been opened for investigation.

A fraud case was then registered with ABSA and Govender was given a new bank card.

Regional executive of ABSA’s physical channels, retail and business bank department, Rendani Muambadzi said these crimes were uncommon but that they were deeply disturbed by it.

“We understand that the recent experience at the hands of a criminal element may have been extremely stressful and, having thoroughly investigated the matter we are now in a position to confirm that we have offered the client a full refund,” said Muambadzi.

This was confirmed by Govender.

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