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Man hacks into online bank account, embezzles Dh165,000

Dubai - 32-year-old Indian suspect raised limit of the transferable amount using the complainant's username and password

An unemployed man has allegedly embezzled Dh165,000 from the bank account of a compatriot accessing the latter's online banking service.
The Court of First Instance was told the Indian defendant forged a power of attorney which he claimed was issued by the complainant to him.
He also managed to have four SIM cards issued in the complainant's name by using the forged power of attorney.
He has been charged with forgery and fraud, while his accomplice is on the run.
The court records show the 32-year-old defendant activated the online banking user name and password of the complainant's account and raised the limit amount he could transfer from that account. Subsequently, he managed to transfer Dh165,000 in two transactions to his Indian runaway accomplice's bank account.
The complainant, a 37-year-old Indian public relations manager, said that his SIM card suddenly stopped working on January 25.
"When I got a replacement card from Etisalat, I turned my phone on and I received four messages from my bank."
The messages were that his online banking service was activated and that the limit amount of money transfer was raised.
The other messages were that Dh100,000 and Dh65,000 were transferred.
He also learnt from them that a SIM replacement card was issued for his number around 10am that day.
The incident was reported to Al Muraqqabat police.
"Through investigation, we learnt that the suspect, who embezzled the amounts, used the online banking in the complainant's name," a police lieutenant said.
On January 29, the police arrested the accused at a bank in Al Mankhoul.
"He claimed an Indian man told him to withdraw amounts from the complainant's account in cheques. He was to be paid Dh6,000 for every transaction."
A Filipina customer service employee told she issued the replacement SIM card for the defendant in the complainant's name after he presented a power of attorney he claimed it had been given to him by the complainant.
"He also presented the defendant's passport copy and his own original ID card. I showed the power of attorney, which was in Arabic, to my superior and he told me to process the transaction.
"The accused alleged the person concerned was out of the country and he was his representative."
The employee added that the defendant visited their outlet in a mall few days later for the same purpose.
"I did not process his application after what happened with the complainant. He also claimed he had a power of attorney for another person."
mary@khaleejtimes.com