A Nigerian lady was left in shock and distress after experiencing an unfortunate incident at an ATM in Festac, Lagos. The machine seized her card, and just minutes later, she discovered that over ₦240,000 had been debited from her account under suspicious circumstances.
The incident, which quickly went viral on X (formerly Twitter), has sparked widespread outrage and debate among Nigerians online.
According to a witness who narrated the ordeal in an accompanying video, the woman had attempted to make a withdrawal when the ATM unexpectedly retained her card. Frustrated, she immediately went into the bank to report the issue, only to be advised by the bank staff to return the following Monday to retrieve her card.
Believing her account to be safe, she left the bank premises. However, within just 20 minutes, she began receiving multiple debit alerts amounting to a staggering ₦240,000. The unauthorized transactions left her in tears, prompting suspicions of foul play.
The viral post shedding light on the matter read: “A lady came to Festac to withdraw money, but the ATM seized her card. She was told to come back on Monday to retrieve it. Shockingly, not up to 30 minutes after she left, her account was debited multiple times.”
The distressing case has triggered heated discussions about banking security in Nigeria, with many questioning the role of banks in protecting customers’ funds. Several online users shared their opinions, concerns, and similar experiences.
Social Media Reactions:
@neefenawt: “They have to return her money ooo. Why couldn’t they block the card after she made the report? The biggest robbers are bankers!”
@Abasiono_Ek: “Right there, you don’t even know who to blame. Is it the security at the bank? Omor.”
@Kingofdreams01: “This is so sad 😞 A banking institution that’s supposed to protect our funds is now the one stealing it.”
@Flowfy02: “She should have raised an alarm inside the bank. The staff who asked her to go home should be held responsible for this.”
@Firsatina: “In today’s digital age, seamless banking experiences should be the norm, but First Bank still lags behind. Embracing fintech innovations is the way forward for a more efficient and customer-centric banking system.”
@Frankeelodeo: “It means as she left, the machine ejected her card, and someone else had access to it. Or maybe her card was swapped at the ATM. She should tell the whole truth.”
@Creamy_1414: “I can swear her card wasn’t stuck inside the machine. Someone definitely swapped her card. I witnessed a similar incident last year. The woman cried, but I couldn't challenge the suspect because I thought they came together.”
WATCH VIDEO:
Her bank ATM seized her ATM card, she went inside to report to the staff, and they told her to come back and get it by next Monday. 20 minutes later, over 200k was taken from her account via a POS terminal 💔 pic.twitter.com/ozCMS90BnU
— Oyindamola🙄 (@dammiedammie35) February 8, 2025