On the first of April 2019, I boarded an intra-city vehicle and dropped at my destination unaware that a guy sitting beside me in the bus had stolen my phone from my pocket. The bus I boarded had picked the guy on the way and he sat next to me. I had no inkling at all that he had the intention of picking my pocket though something told me that this guy's way 'no pure' as he was casting uncanny and surreptitious glances towards my direction, with a weird look on his face. Little did I know he was busy with my pocket.

It was several minutes after I had alighted at my destination that I realised that my smartphone was missing from my pocket. I used a friend's phone to dial my number and found out that the criminal had already switched it off. I resigned to fate knowing fully well that my chances of getting back the phone was slim. I however kept dialling my number till evening, it was still switched off. 6 AM in the morning of 2nd April I dialled my number again and it was ringing but wasn't picked up at the other end. After a few more attempts, the rogue switched off the phone again.

I decided to contact MTN that day to block the line, which they did. However, to my chagrin, when I went to the ATM that same morning to make a withdrawal, I found out the my account balance had changed and that the criminals have succeeded in withdrawing some thousands of Naira from my account. I rushed inside the bank immediately and blocked the account.

What I am still dazed about is how it's possible for criminals to withdraw money from someone's bank account just by getting hold of the sim card. Mind you, my phone can only be accessed via a PIN, so the possibility of them making a transfer using my bank's mobile app is ruled out. So how did they do it?

Has anyone ever been victim of such? Please share so others can learn.

Mods, can you please move to front page so others can learn? Thanks.

sorry about that

Taniaa:
sorry about that

Thanks.

Sorry bro. This same thing happened to my friend

mykelswa:
Sorry bro. This same thing happened to my friend

Thank you. I've put it behind me.

Funnily enough prior to the advent of gsm phone and ATM, such sour tales were non-existent. New technology, new risks.

sorry bro

Had the same experience early year. The thieves managed to steal 32k from my account.

I've since learnt that the first thing to do after such theft to block your line. Then contact your bank to block your account as well.

How much him take, wet you dey blow all this grammar?

Sorry I feel your pains I have been there.

Normal thing

BlackfireX:
How much him take, wet you dey blow all this grammar?

For you to ask this kin stup1d question e sure me say you dey into criminal activity.




@op take heart.

Today is my birthday so free airtime for one lucky person 717461482236188

Maybe they used the forgot pin option.

IQscanner:
Today is my birthday so free airtime for one lucky person 717461482236188

why did you repeat my post?

Yes it's possible to steal from your account.
Even without knowing the password, some clever social Engineering can supply the attacker all details to steal.

These days, your phone is your second identity, especially when it's part of your multifactor authentication on several platforms.

The whole story is not yet out

Op, the name of the guy please.

That guy get group wey dey do the runs.

This is seriously serious....

You question is suspicious, you want to know how they did itPsychologically, I strongly believe you have the intention to carry such acts, thereby you need a tip on how to withdraw in such situations....


Don't ask us
Ask your bank

Once your phone is stolen,go and block Bank Acct because your acct is lined to it and emails also

Sorry about your loss

But guy , your write up funny

It's safer you password your sim card than your phone... always make sure you password the 2....

USSD is what he used to wipe your money

These guys have gone international.....

Happened to my dad last year,just got him a new phone. It was stolen less than 2 weeks after he started using the phone, and that day was on a Friday...so we were waiting for Monday to block it. We immediately called empty-hen to block the line which they did. Yet the number continued to ring and a young lady picked feigning ignorance. Behold,she was in AKS, we poured invectives on her,yet she said she was innocent.
To cut a long story short over 80k had gone, before monday, yet that number continued to ring. Even the bank were as confused as we were. Till date,the money enter Voicemail... Once it happens,get to the bank asap...don't even wait an extra second...or best still call their customer care line...

Sorry bro....you are in 9ja...

Hear word

You guys dont listen. The minute you lose your phone, call your banks. Any transactions after your call will be a liability to the bank.

CALL YOUR BANK!!! BORROW A PHONE AND CALL YOUR BANK!

ANYWAYS, WINTER HAS COME!!!

Baddiezz:
why did you repeat my post?

a happy birthday to you

Send my own airtime oo.. I must partake in your birthday blessings. etis, thanks ^^

Sorry about it. but i wonder how you definitely knew it was him apart from the sneaky look?

its kind of risky that analogue forms of communication are gradually being phased out. phones are becoming ever-more essential to every day life

to the point that even if you want to avoid phones it will be difficult

They