Mamta Darjay in Gelegphu found out her life savings have been wiped out clean after a visit from a BoBConnect Agent last month. The agent was at her home to inform her she has withdrawn Nu 10,000 in excess. They were both surprised to see each other; the agent- because it was a man who came to withdraw the money, and Mamta- because she hasn’t been to any agents in weeks. This is a story of how people fall easy prey to technology.
Mamta runs a canteen at one of the automobile workshops in the new Industrial Service centre in Gelegphu. On June 6 she lost her mobile phone from the canteen. With most of her personal details stored in the phone, the thief was able to empty her account of Nu 595,000 through the BoB’s Agency Banking, BoBConnect Agents. The suspect, an Indian national, identified as an auto electrician in the same workshop withdrew the money from five Agency Banking in Gelegphu till June 9. He left for India on June 17.
Touted as ‘secure, convenient & hassle-free transactions’, the BoBConnect agents facilitate services like fund transfers and cash withdrawals among others. The service is provided through a one-time password (OTP), meaning a request for withdrawal will be initiated after the client show the OTP received on their mobile phones from the bank. The client is also required to furnish a citizenship identity card/work permit and account numbers for identification. People can withdraw a maximum of Nu 10,000 at a time.
The suspect was last captured on a CCTV withdrawing money from a BoBConnect agent on June 9. Mamta was notified by the same agent on June 16 after the agent found out that excess payment of Nu 10,000 was done against Mamta’s account.
She is now accusing the agents of not following due process for cash withdrawals. She alleges that the five agents should be held accountable for losing her life savings.
“The agents said they could offer service to whoever comes to withdraw money from their agency. I said without my ID and signature why did they let him withdraw a huge amount. They said they could provide service to everyone. Even they provide their service to children sent by their parents,” she said.
The case is with the Gelegphu police. Police said there are lapses on both sides because the account holder did not notify the telecom service providers, bank and police when she first lost her phone. And the BoB Agency Banking was also accused of not following proper procedures while providing services to the suspect.
BBS reached out to the Bank of Bhutan for comments.
Karma Wangdi, Gelegphu
Edited by Sonam
