Mobile banking apps have brought banking to our fingertips. From making a Nu 20 parking fee payment to transferring hundreds of thousands of Ngultrum in a matter of seconds, banking has never been more convenient. However, some people have found ways to deceive others by way of manipulated screenshots.
Mobile banking applications are cost-effective and flexible; however, many are deceived through fraudulent practices whereby they are shown edited screenshots of mobile transactions.
“Not everyone does it, except for a few individuals. During busy hours, they make a purchase and take out a screenshot of a payment that’s already been made. So, it would be much easier if people came in with cash,” said Lungten Tshering, a vegetable vendor.
While scammers conduct such acts when a shopkeeper is engaged with other customers. Some even duped fuel station attendants.
“When transferring, we ask them to show the screenshot but in fact, they transfer it from their account to another account, which belongs to them. Others fake technical issues in their payment system and tell us they will park their vehicle to do the transaction but then they drive away,” said Sangay, a fuel station attendant.
Sangay said filing complaints to the traffic police does not help, since the police are not allowed to share an individual’s contact information using the vehicle number plate.
Both banks and the police say only a few cases have been registered with them, but many cases go unreported.
“Not everyone does it, but a few individuals would already keep a screenshot and then they would ask to scan. They would pretend to scan and say they have transferred but since we’re sitting in the front seat, we can’t properly check and accept it,” said Pemba, a taxi driver.
An official from the Bank of Bhutan shared that banks are creating awareness of such practices.
However, they are helpless when merchants complain since there won’t be any transaction records against the manipulated payment screenshot.
The official stated that the only way to avoid such scams is if the receiving person takes responsibility to confirm the receipt of the amount immediately either through SMS notification, checking mini-statement or balance enquiry.
Tshering Deki
Edited by Sherub Dorji
