OFW Questions BDO’s Credibility after Losing P28K from Bank Account through Online Banking

Is money in the bank REALLY safe and secured? Do banks REALLY take care of the hard-earned money of its bank account holders?

For one OFW who lost her money in the bank with the ATM in her possession, I’m sure she lost faith in believing that saving money in the bank is still safe!

An OFW in the Middle East named Juvy Garcia was unable to ‘hold her horses’ that she burst with  great dismay and disgust after finding out that she lost money in her bank account. She voiced out her emotions on social media for everyone else to know and take caution in saving money in the bank.

According to her post on Facebook, Juvy had been working hard in the Middle East and had taken advantage of BDO’s (Banco de Oro) online banking services to easily facilitate transactions more particularly sending money to family in the Philippines. However, one day, she was surprised to discover that an amount of P 28,000 had been deducted from her account which she never had transacted.

Apparently, the ATM was with Juvi all the time.  She claimed there were only 2 times she made use of her card; first, when she had to change her PIN, and second, when she activated her Online Banking services through BDO’s machine.  She never engaged into any transaction and did not withdraw money from her account at the time the said amount had been deducted from her savings.

Juvy narrated that she came to know that she lost P28,000 last December 23, 2017 when she logged into her online account. She claimed she saw 5 unauthorized withdrawals made totalling to P 28,135.76.

At that time, aside from being dismayed, Juvi said she was totally puzzled as to how come that happened when the ATM was in her possession!

Juvy’s friends were telling her that it could possibly be an “inside job”.  For what reason it may be, Juvi had only wanted one thing– that she get her hard-earned money back.

The OFW claimed she had been using the BDO’s online banking facility for 18 months and that was the first time she encountered the said incident.

Shortly, Juvi said she decided to send an email to BDO customer service.  In fact, not just once.  She sent 3 emails just to get their attention.  Unfortunately, no one had taken her complaint.  She also tried calling their hotline number but she claimed, had taken so much of her time.

Until finally, she had the chance to voice out her concern when she sent a message to BDO’s community page and a customer service assistant  helped her block the ATM card so others may not be able to access it. The OFW was also given a dispute form which she had not accomplished yet and a reference number so she can follow-up how the bank has been handling her case.

Meanwhile, Juvi claimed she did not post her unpleasant banking experience with BDO to destroy the bank’s credibility. But then, she claimed, for a victim like her, no one can blame her for raising her concerns and doubts the bank’s capacity to protect its bank account holders.

As BDO’s tag line is “We find ways,” Juvi hopes her case will be closely looked into by BDO and that they find ways in fixing the said unpleasant banking experience.

Juvy Facebook Post 

So this is it, I’m going to make it public. I’ll try to make it as short as I possibly can. I was supposed to publish this earlier but due to the holidays, na-delay.

Let me start by saying, di po ako mayaman. Isa po akong OFW, and contrary to what others think of someone who is working abroad, I’m not able to ‘make pulot’ as much money as I want to (yeah, whatever!). So, being an OFW, i took advantage of the services being offered in the bank – BDO online banking in particular. Almost all OFWs here in the Middle East is using BDO. Bakit hindi, sila ay may slot sa PDOS namin and the offer is quite good.

So, here’s what happened.
SOMEONE ELSE HAD WITHDRAWN Php28K OUT OF MY ACCOUNT BY USING/SWIPING THE ATM CARD THAT IS ABSOLUTELY IN MY POSSESSION!

I’ve been using the BDO-OLB for 18 months as of date. The passbook and the BDO card is with me! The only time I used an ATM was to change the pincode (inside BDO bank) & to activate my OLB (done before my flight the next day). Padala dito every now & then, of course that’s the main reason why I’m here. I don’t usually save much coz I know the risk involved (At kung tutuusin, I shouldn’t be made to feel this way. These banks who handles our hard-earned money should ‘FIND WAYS’ & see to it that our money is secured. Angry Emoticon )

Fast forward to December 23, ’17. I logged in to my account using the BDO app. kasi dba Christmas and that’s when I found out about the 5 unauthorized withdrawals, a total of Php28,135.76. There are 2 things that actually baffles me. One, I never received an email notifying me that I have successfully withdrawn or purchased something. Two, is there no limit to the amount a person can withdraw in one day? My friends kept telling me it’s an inside job. Well, inside job or not, I want my money back.

I sent 3 emails but I never got any reply until now (#asapamore). Calling their hotline is such a hassle, andaming option ubos na load ko pag may avail customer rep. na to assist me. I tried their community page and I was finally assisted (pero ang hirap kunin ng attention nila ha?!). He helped me blocked my ATM card & gave me a reference number should I follow my case up. He also gave me this dispute form that I haven’t signed yet.

It’s never my intention to tarnish the credibility of the bank, but when you become the victim of a fraud and the BDO employees/mgt continues to disregard my case, and these scenario rises in random occurrence, would someone fault me if I would question their credibility to handle our savings? Crappy things like this can happen to anyone, at nakakalungkot po kasi ung iba 50k, 100k ung nawawala sa kanila. Hopefully, BDO will ‘FIND WAYS’ to fix this. Sad Emoticon

Please share to raise awareness. Salamat po.