Good evening nairalanders.
My phone was recently stolen at a bus stop by pickpockets and negative events transpired.
I kept calling the phone but it wasn't ringing and the second SIM kept forwarding to a number that doesn't exist.

I decided to go and check my account balance and was shocked to see that all the money I had in my GTBank account was gone.

I used a computer and logged in to my email address (the one linked to my bank account) and was shocked to see that the person used the 737 airtime self option to buy airtime worth the amount in my account. This was possible due to the vulnerability of GTBank 737 to not ask for pin when trying to buy airtime for self (the number linked to your GTBank account).

In summary, What scammers now do is to buy airtime with your number and transfer the airtime and sell it. Gone are the days when a mobile phone is stolen and the sim card is discarded.
Also they bar all incoming calls and SMS so that even if you call it would not ring. But the line would be on and they would wait for any alert that enters and buy airtime.

It's unlikely that GTBank would fix this error and even they do, one should take the precautions below:

1. Set a share and sell pin on your SIM card (even if you don't actually send airtime to people). The scammer would fail to sell the airtime and after repeated attempts would get barred.

2. Immediately your phone is stolen go to the bank ATM and withdraw all your money. Or search Google on how to place restriction on your account using another phone number (it's possible on 737)

3. Proceed to do a welcome back immediately. Your line may be used for criminal activities.

4. Be extremely cautious and observant in public settings


Hope this piece of information would save someone the agony I experienced last week.

cc: lalalasticlala mynd44

MrJavaS:
Good evening nairalanders.
My phone was recently stolen at a bus stop by pickpockets and negative events transpired.
I kept calling the phone but it wasn't ringing and the second SIM kept forwarding to a number that doesn't exist.

I decided to go and check my account balance and was shocked to see that all the money I had in my GTBank account was gone.

I used a computer and logged in to my email address (the one linked to my bank account) and was shocked to see that the person used the 737 airtime self option to buy airtime worth the amount in my account. This was possible due to the vulnerability of GTBank 737 to not ask for pin when trying to buy airtime for self (the number linked to your GTBank account).

In summary, What scammers now do is to buy airtime with your number and transfer the airtime and sell it. Gone are the days when a mobile phone is stolen and the sim card is discarded.
Also they bar all incoming calls and SMS so that even if you call it would not ring. But the line would be on and they would wait for any alert that enters and buy airtime.

It's unlikely that GTBank would fix this error and even they do, one should take the precautions below:

1. Set a share and sell pin on your SIM card (even if you don't actually send airtime to people). The scammer would fail to sell the airtime and after repeated attempts would get barred.

2. Immediately your phone is stolen go to the bank ATM and withdraw all your money. Or search Google on how to place restriction on your account using another phone number (it's possible on 737)

3. Proceed to do a welcome back immediately. Your line may be used for criminal activities.

4. Be extremely cautious and observant in public settings


Hope this piece of information would save someone the agony I experienced last week.

cc: lalalasticlala

That means your phone was either not an Android phone or an Android phone that had no password

Sorry op, to avoid all these just set a pin on your Sim. Even if you lose your phone the sim is useless to them because it is pin protected.

So whats the highest amt of recharge possible frm gtb acct at a point? because i think e no suppose pass 10k

Avoid ussd banking,that rubbish is not safe.

bushjeph:
So whats the highest amt of recharge possible frm gtb acct at a point? because i think e no suppose pass 10k

You can set it on your mobile app.

royalair:
Sorry op, to avoid all these just set a pin on your Sim. Even if you lose your phone the sim is useless to them because it is pin protected.

Can you tell us how to do it

the solution is put your phone in Pin lock!

A word is enough for the wise

Op. I had similar experience few days ago with the same bank as you. The person started with 100 naira worth of airtime. Probably to check if there’s money in the account. From 100 naira to 200, from 200 to 500, 500 to 1000.

Initially, I thought it was as a result of network glitch. I even called the number linked to the airtime but the person behind the number denied it. The deduction stopped immediately I transferred all the money to a different account

Three days ago, the same number resumed the buying of airtime when he noticed that I had 500 naira remaining in the account. Immediately, I called the customer care for the account to be barred from further outgoing transactions.

Now, here's the koko. When I called the customer care, I was told the number was listed on my my account profile. I was advised to quickly go to the bank and update my mobile contact information from the bank. I told the customer care agent that the number doesn't belong to me. I have never made use of such number.

My question is this: if the number doesn't belong me, how then did the number found its way to my account profile because I'm sure I've never made use of that particular number.

Secondly, how come all this started few days ago. At a time when others are coming up with similar complaints. This should tells us that some of these bank frauds are perpetuated by bank staff internally.

MrJavaS:
Good evening nairalanders.
My phone was recently stolen at a bus stop by pickpockets and negative events transpired.
I kept calling the phone but it wasn't ringing and the second SIM kept forwarding to a number that doesn't exist.

I decided to go and check my account balance and was shocked to see that all the money I had in my GTBank account was gone.

I used a computer and logged in to my email address (the one linked to my bank account) and was shocked to see that the person used the 737 airtime self option to buy airtime worth the amount in my account. This was possible due to the vulnerability of GTBank 737 to not ask for pin when trying to buy airtime for self (the number linked to your GTBank account).

In summary, What scammers now do is to buy airtime with your number and transfer the airtime and sell it. Gone are the days when a mobile phone is stolen and the sim card is discarded.
Also they bar all incoming calls and SMS so that even if you call it would not ring. But the line would be on and they would wait for any alert that enters and buy airtime.

It's unlikely that GTBank would fix this error and even they do, one should take the precautions below:

1. Set a share and sell pin on your SIM card (even if you don't actually send airtime to people). The scammer would fail to sell the airtime and after repeated attempts would get barred.

2. Immediately your phone is stolen go to the bank ATM and withdraw all your money. Or search Google on how to place restriction on your account using another phone number (it's possible on 737)

3. Proceed to do a welcome back immediately. Your line may be used for criminal activities.

4. Be extremely cautious and observant in public settings


Hope this piece of information would save someone the agony I experienced last week.

cc: lalalasticlala

You should have call your network provider to bar the line pending when you will go for retriever. Its not a glitch zenith Bank too allows you to buy airtime directly without password.

MrJavaS:
Good evening nairalanders.
My phone was recently stolen at a bus stop by pickpockets and negative events transpired.
I kept calling the phone but it wasn't ringing and the second SIM kept forwarding to a number that doesn't exist.

I decided to go and check my account balance and was shocked to see that all the money I had in my GTBank account was gone.

I used a computer and logged in to my email address (the one linked to my bank account) and was shocked to see that the person used the 737 airtime self option to buy airtime worth the amount in my account. This was possible due to the vulnerability of GTBank 737 to not ask for pin when trying to buy airtime for self (the number linked to your GTBank account).

In summary, What scammers now do is to buy airtime with your number and transfer the airtime and sell it. Gone are the days when a mobile phone is stolen and the sim card is discarded.
Also they bar all incoming calls and SMS so that even if you call it would not ring. But the line would be on and they would wait for any alert that enters and buy airtime.

It's unlikely that GTBank would fix this error and even they do, one should take the precautions below:

1. Set a share and sell pin on your SIM card (even if you don't actually send airtime to people). The scammer would fail to sell the airtime and after repeated attempts would get barred.

2. Immediately your phone is stolen go to the bank ATM and withdraw all your money. Or search Google on how to place restriction on your account using another phone number (it's possible on 737)

3. Proceed to do a welcome back immediately. Your line may be used for criminal activities.

4. Be extremely cautious and observant in public settings


Hope this piece of information would save someone the agony I experienced last week.

cc: lalalasticlala

Put on your SIM card security settings next time.

laluski:


That means your phone was either not an Android phone or an Android phone that had no password

Can't they remove the SIM and put in another phone?
The best option is to make sure you put your SIM card security on.

MrJavaS:
Good evening nairalanders.
My phone was recently stolen at a bus stop by pickpockets and negative events transpired.
I kept calling the phone but it wasn't ringing and the second SIM kept forwarding to a number that doesn't exist.

I decided to go and check my account balance and was shocked to see that all the money I had in my GTBank account was gone.

I used a computer and logged in to my email address (the one linked to my bank account) and was shocked to see that the person used the 737 airtime self option to buy airtime worth the amount in my account. This was possible due to the vulnerability of GTBank 737 to not ask for pin when trying to buy airtime for self (the number linked to your GTBank account).

In summary, What scammers now do is to buy airtime with your number and transfer the airtime and sell it. Gone are the days when a mobile phone is stolen and the sim card is discarded.
Also they bar all incoming calls and SMS so that even if you call it would not ring. But the line would be on and they would wait for any alert that enters and buy airtime.

It's unlikely that GTBank would fix this error and even they do, one should take the precautions below:

1. Set a share and sell pin on your SIM card (even if you don't actually send airtime to people). The scammer would fail to sell the airtime and after repeated attempts would get barred.

2. Immediately your phone is stolen go to the bank ATM and withdraw all your money. Or search Google on how to place restriction on your account using another phone number (it's possible on 737)

3. Proceed to do a welcome back immediately. Your line may be used for criminal activities.

4. Be extremely cautious and observant in public settings


Hope this piece of information would save someone the agony I experienced last week.

cc: lalalasticlala

Sorry for your lost, but the maximum airtime of GTB is 20k he can't exceed that.

laluski:


That means your phone was either not an Android phone or an Android phone that had no password

This doesn't stop anything. They simply remove the sim and insert it in another phone. Always make sure to set a sim PIN for your Sim cards. That way, when they remove the sim and insert it in a different device, it will ask for the PIN, which they don't know. Thereby, making the sim inaccessible.

This is why I move my money to my Opay or Kuda account. No USSD. No way to move my money cause I don't move up and down with the phone that have the apps on it. And even then, the apps are hidden from all other apps just in case someone else get hold of the phone.

calypah:
Sorry for your lost, but the maximum airtime of GTB is 20k he can't exceed that.

20k loss is still money. It may not be huge to you but it's still a loss (together with the phone)

Owologbo:


Put on your SIM card security settings next time.

Even if I do that they can easily use MTK tools whatever program on pc and unlock my phone

laluski:


That means your phone was either not an Android phone or an Android phone that had no password

As if they cannot remove the sim and insert into another device.

Just lock your phone and your sims too, I lock my phone and my sim, if you get hold of my phone it is as good as useless to you, even if you flash the phone, the sim would still demand for password to get access to it,

Just lock your sim and have peace of mind

MrJavaS:

As if they cannot remove the sim and insert into another device.

If you lock your sim, it becomes useless to them, if u like remove my sim and put for Hushpuppy phone, u cant have access to it. It is passworded

Same thing happened to me when my phone was stolen around that April. I transfered most of my money away from the account and left only 2k. By the time I checked my email in the afternoon, I saw that about #1100 has been used from my account.

noobody:
Avoid ussd banking,that rubbish is not safe.

Actually the solution is not to avoid it totally but to activate it and obviously secure it with a pin.

The best fool proof method is really just to put a pin on your sim

So your phone doesn't have a lock code?

And your sim card pin is not enabled?

Na you do yourself.

Next time, try and get a separate sim card and a small Nokia for banks.

That particular SIM card never leaves your house.

On your daily phone, you can use the bank app.

Ussd is not safe anymore.

laluski:


That means your phone was either not an Android phone or an Android phone that had no password

So you need a password to remove a Sim from an andriod phone?

Owologbo:


Can't they remove the SIM and put in another phone?
The best option is to make sure you put your SIM card security on.

And how do we do that sir?
Locking the sim card

Really

S

Efeboyi:


And how do we do that sir?
Locking the sim card

If you go to your phone settings, you will see SIM lock under security.
MTN default pin is 0000; after in putting the default pin, they will ask you to put a new PIN.
put something you can remember, because your SIM will be locked after 3 times putting wrong pin.

MrJavaS:

Even if I do that they can easily use MTK tools whatever program on pc and unlock my phone

It's not your phone that has access to your bank account, it your SIM card.

Try activate your SIM lock to avoid story that touch.

MrJavaS:
Good evening nairalanders.
My phone was recently stolen at a bus stop by pickpockets and negative events transpired.
I kept calling the phone but it wasn't ringing and the second SIM kept forwarding to a number that doesn't exist.

I decided to go and check my account balance and was shocked to see that all the money I had in my GTBank account was gone.

I used a computer and logged in to my email address (the one linked to my bank account) and was shocked to see that the person used the 737 airtime self option to buy airtime worth the amount in my account. This was possible due to the vulnerability of GTBank 737 to not ask for pin when trying to buy airtime for self (the number linked to your GTBank account).

In summary, What scammers now do is to buy airtime with your number and transfer the airtime and sell it. Gone are the days when a mobile phone is stolen and the sim card is discarded.
Also they bar all incoming calls and SMS so that even if you call it would not ring. But the line would be on and they would wait for any alert that enters and buy airtime.

It's unlikely that GTBank would fix this error and even they do, one should take the precautions below:

1. Set a share and sell pin on your SIM card (even if you don't actually send airtime to people). The scammer would fail to sell the airtime and after repeated attempts would get barred.

2. Immediately your phone is stolen go to the bank ATM and withdraw all your money. Or search Google on how to place restriction on your account using another phone number (it's possible on 737)

3. Proceed to do a welcome back immediately. Your line may be used for criminal activities.

4. Be extremely cautious and observant in public settings


Hope this piece of information would save someone the agony I experienced last week.

cc: lalalasticlala mynd44

Simply activate SIM lock on your sim. Once the phone is restarted or the sim is inserted in another device, it will require sim pin to function.

Thanks for this piece of info. Sorry for what happened to you.