Putrajaya Hospital consultant physician and nephrologist Dr Rafidah Abdullah posted a series of Facebook post yesterday sharing her experience of losing RM13,000 after three unauthorised transactions through CIMB Malaysia, leaving her account with a remaining RM50.
Rafidah slammed the bank for its lack of scrutiny on the security measures and shifting the blame to customers as she didn’t receive any transaction authorisation code (TAC) required for the money transfers.
‘Goodbye CIMB’
In her first post, she wrote that she had been a faithful customer in CIMB for more than 30 years.
“Today I’m very disappointed with CIMB. It’s totally lack of security. 3 transactions through CIMB with a total of RM13,000 around 2am to 2.30am don’t have a single trigger? Didn’t request for TAC at all. All is gone in a blink of an eye.”
This is absolutely ridiculous. Looks like the money isn’t safe with CIMB bank.
She had lodge a report to CIMB, police and other authorities, but the feedback she gained is that the money could not be returned back to her.
The doctor claimed that she’ll be closing her account swiftly as she had lost faith in CIMB.
Lastly, she warned others to look out for similar incidents.
‘It’s not rocket science’
CIMB bank had contacted Rafidah explaining to her that the incident was caused as she accidentally clicked on links a few days ago, which resulted with another phone to be registered to her bank account.
The victim claimed that she didn’t download any dubious mobile apps and has reset her phone.
“My question is simple. I have had this account for nearly 30 years. I have never registered two mobile numbers, not even changing my phone number.”
“Why does a new phone registration not need a TAC? Why? I urge CIMB to only allow one mobile number for CIMB Click, or to please call the account owner to verify if there’s a change in numbers,” she added.
Lastly, she demanded CIMB to act fast as it isn’t hard to administer this issue, “Please use your brains. Tighten your SOPs. This is Malaysians’ individual rights. Their hard-earned money, for goodness sake.”
In her fourth post, the doctor was frustrated by a Facebook post of CIMB reminding public to aware of fraud and to avoid cybercrime on themselves.
She expressed her dissatisfaction by saying, “Security is your responsibility. Not to point fingers at your customers. Your security must be intact. That is your job and responsibility.”
Rafidah also called upon citizens to continue their demands for the bank to secure the transactions as she believed that customers should not be blamed for these scams to occurred.
Bank Negara Malaysia was also mentioned by her as she request them to implement strict action against the bank.
As regulator, they should supervise and shut down banks with no standard operating procedures or with security issues promptly.
Rafidah shared that her money was transferred to a Hong Leong account, and has lodged a report with BNM.
“Shame on you – this is what you posted in relation to what the country is upset about? Ridiculous, useless, and classic act of washing hands. Do not, I repeat, do not shift the blame.”
Lastly, the doctor emphasised, “I demand you replace all the money of Malaysians who were scammed and accounts were hacked. It is not their fault.”
Mixed reactions from netizens
Doctor Rafidah first post has garnered up to 22,000 likes as netizens replied with mixed feelings.
Some supported her by saying, “Don’t stop Doctor… Just fine CIMB.”
Others find solidarity with her, stating that they also suffered from similar situation at other banks.
“Maybank is the same doctor. My friend lost RM30k.”
Whereas, in a recent post by Rafidah she shared a screenshot of a private message she received accusing her that she’s the one blaming others.
She responded by saying, “First of all, my fault? CIMB allowed a second phone to register as CIMB Click account. Which I haven’t done before in 30 years? That iPhone 6? Isn’t that suspicious? Where is CIMB IT? Sleeping? Keep blaming others ya.
As for the metaphoric the person sent her by saying that when her patients come to seek treatment for kidney issues, as they consume rubbish products, she’ll blame the patient too.
She replied by saying, “Blaming patient? Yes, I’ll tell them that the kidney damage is caused by rubbish products. That’s not blaming.”
“I help my patients, unlike all of you banks – you DO NOT care about consumers.”
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Cover Image via Facebook / Rafidah Abdullah
Editor: Sarah Yeoh