ABSA Fraud Case

[S_HolmesZA]

Hi everyone,

I’m hoping someone here can offer guidance or share advice.

On 20 March 2026, I reported a fraud case with ABSA (Reference: 16326448). I followed all their instructions and submitted everything requested, including a stamped affidavit and SAPS case number.

However, I haven’t received any meaningful feedback or updates on my case since then.

I’ve tried following up, but still lack clarity on several things:

- The status of my case
- Whether it’s been assigned
- What are the next steps

This situation has been incredibly stressful, especially not knowing what’s happening or how long it will take.

Has anyone experienced something similar with ABSA? If so, how did you manage to get a response or resolution?

Any advice would be greatly appreciated.

Thank you so much.


#Absa South Africa

I’m writing to express my deep disappointment with how ABSA handled my fraud claim (Ref: 16326448).

I was a victim of fraud when scammers impersonated bank representatives. During the incident, I received a WhatsApp message that appeared to be from ABSA. It asked me to confirm whether a transaction of R98,667.00 was fraudulent.

This was the first time in my entire banking history with ABSA that I’d received a WhatsApp verification message, even for large transactions in the past. Feeling unfamiliar and pressured by individuals posing as bank officials, I initially responded incorrectly, thinking I was protecting my account.

Later, I realised something was wrong and tried to correct my response by indicating it was fraud. However, I received an automated reply stating my previous response had already been processed and no further action was needed.

This means:
- A single WhatsApp response confirmed a high-value transaction.
- There were no additional safeguards or verification steps.
- There was no way to reverse or escalate the response.
- No human intervention took place.

I didn’t share any OTP PIN or confidential banking details at any stage.

Despite these circumstances, ABSA has declined my claim. They’ve claimed my login details were used and placed the blame on me.

This feels unfair and overlooks the fact I was a victim of fraud. My problem stems from using an unfamiliar communication channel like WhatsApp and the lack of prior customer awareness. Furthermore, there were inadequate fraud prevention safeguards and I even tried to correct my response.



https://www.hellopeter.com/absa/rev...unprofessional-call-centre-experience-6303878

#Absa #AbsaSouthAfrica #BankFraud #FraudAwareness #ConsumerRights #BankingSouthAfrica #WhatsAppScam #CyberFraud #FinancialJustice #SpeakUp #ProtectConsumers #Ombudsman #CustomerExperience #StaySafeOnline

 

[neoprema]

There's a few issues here I have questions on:

1. How did the whatsapp response confirm a transaction? ABSA does not have any Whatsapp integration for OTPs?
2. Did you give any information on Whatsapp other than just a yes or no for this transaction?
3. Your account details were obviously compromised, and someone used them to login. But your banking app would have prompted for any account additions etc or fallback to SMS.
4. Did the fact that it was an unfamiliar platform that the bank has never used not make you suspicious enough to not reply?

 

[Kosmik]

There's a few issues here I have questions on:

1. How did the whatsapp response confirm a transaction? ABSA does not have any Whatsapp integration for OTPs?
2. Did you give any information on Whatsapp other than just a yes or no for this transaction?
3. Your account details were obviously compromised, and someone used them to login. But your banking app would have prompted for any account additions etc or fallback to SMS.
4. Did the fact that it was an unfamiliar platform that the bank has never used not make you suspicious enough to not reply?

Whole story is odd. Likely comprised through some whatsapp worm and the harvested.

Don't see how bank was involved.

 

[Heisenborg]

Hi everyone,

I’m hoping someone here can offer guidance or share advice.

On 20 March 2026, I reported a fraud case with ABSA (Reference: 16326448). I followed all their instructions and submitted everything requested, including a stamped affidavit and SAPS case number.

However, I haven’t received any meaningful feedback or updates on my case since then.

I’ve tried following up, but still lack clarity on several things:

- The status of my case
- Whether it’s been assigned
- What are the next steps

This situation has been incredibly stressful, especially not knowing what’s happening or how long it will take.

Has anyone experienced something similar with ABSA? If so, how did you manage to get a response or resolution?

Any advice would be greatly appreciated.

Thank you so much.


#Absa South Africa

I’m writing to express my deep disappointment with how ABSA handled my fraud claim (Ref: 16326448).

I was a victim of fraud when scammers impersonated bank representatives. During the incident, I received a WhatsApp message that appeared to be from ABSA. It asked me to confirm whether a transaction of R98,667.00 was fraudulent.

This was the first time in my entire banking history with ABSA that I’d received a WhatsApp verification message, even for large transactions in the past. Feeling unfamiliar and pressured by individuals posing as bank officials, I initially responded incorrectly, thinking I was protecting my account.

Later, I realised something was wrong and tried to correct my response by indicating it was fraud. However, I received an automated reply stating my previous response had already been processed and no further action was needed.

This means:
- A single WhatsApp response confirmed a high-value transaction.
- There were no additional safeguards or verification steps.
- There was no way to reverse or escalate the response.
- No human intervention took place.

I didn’t share any OTP PIN or confidential banking details at any stage.

Despite these circumstances, ABSA has declined my claim. They’ve claimed my login details were used and placed the blame on me.

This feels unfair and overlooks the fact I was a victim of fraud. My problem stems from using an unfamiliar communication channel like WhatsApp and the lack of prior customer awareness. Furthermore, there were inadequate fraud prevention safeguards and I even tried to correct my response.



https://www.hellopeter.com/absa/rev...unprofessional-call-centre-experience-6303878

#Absa #AbsaSouthAfrica #BankFraud #FraudAwareness #ConsumerRights #BankingSouthAfrica #WhatsAppScam #CyberFraud #FinancialJustice #SpeakUp #ProtectConsumers #Ombudsman #CustomerExperience #StaySafeOnline

Yeah nobody is buying that version of events.

 

[S_HolmesZA]

Whole story is odd. Likely comprised through some whatsapp worm and the harvested.

Don't see how bank was involved.

1. At the time, the WhatsApp message appeared to be a legitimate verification linked to my account activity. I was not aware that ABSA does not use WhatsApp for OTPs, and it was presented in a way that felt like a real-time confirmation request. I had also never received any WhatsApp communication from Absa before, so this was completely new to me. As far as I know, Absa does not normally send WhatsApp messages, which adds to the confusion.
2. I did not provide any personal or sensitive banking information. I only responded to what appeared to be a confirmation prompt, and no OTP was shared because I never received one.
3. I agree that my account details must have been compromised, but I was not aware of this at the time. I did not knowingly approve any new device, beneficiary, or transaction through my banking app, and I did not receive any SMS or in-app OTP to authorise anything.
4. Looking back, I understand why this raises concern. At the time, it did not immediately stand out as suspicious, especially with the way scams are becoming more sophisticated and urgent in nature. In that moment, I believed I was responding to a legitimate request.

I also want to emphasise that I never received any OTP at all, which is why this situation does not make sense to me and is exactly why I am trying to get clarity.

 

[S_HolmesZA]

FOLLOW-UP ON MY ABSA FRAUD EXPERIENCE

I feel it’s important to share an update on my situation.
After everything that has happened, I was recently sent an email from ABSA that was not even meant for me; it contained another client’s information. This was later explained as an “error,” and I was told no personal information was shared, yet the email was clearly not intended for me.

This raises serious concerns for me. If someone else’s information can be sent to me so easily, how secure is my own information? It makes me question whether internal errors or access could have played a role in what happened in my fraud case.

We are told that our personal information is protected under the POPIA Act, but situations like this make it difficult to feel confident in that protection, especially when incidents are simply brushed off as mistakes, with no visible accountability.

This is not about blame, but about accountability, transparency, and protecting customers.
I am sharing this because I believe these conversations matter. We all deserve to know that our personal and financial information is handled with care and responsibility.

 

[Snyper564]

Whole story is odd. Likely comprised through some whatsapp worm and the harvested.

Don't see how bank was involved.

Just for the record absa does use what'sapp to notify you off fraudulent transactions have a number of items through it over the years, however in instances where the msg was delayed or incorrect response I called the number of the fraud department immediately for human assistance with zero issues.

 

[RedViking]

Sounds like a horrible situation to be in either way. We are just little fish in a the ocean to these big guys.

OP hope there is some good end to this.

 

[Segg]

OP, in future when in doubt there is no doubt.

Do not engage with any unsolicited communications from a bank. You pick up a phone, dial the number on the back of your card and speak to someone which you establish communication with via methods you know.

Unfortunately in your case I don’t think you’re going to get anything back from ABSA. Expensive school fees I’m afraid.

 

[Mirai]

Sounds like a horrible situation to be in either way. We are just little fish in a the ocean to these big guys.

OP hope there is some good end to this.

True. And 'digital' banking makes fraud easier. Like for example how your banking app is on the smartphone and the 2FA codes are also sent to the same app on the same smartphone. So a thief need only know your passcode for the phone and passcode for the banking app and they have all your money.

 

[Mirai]

OP, in future when in doubt there is no doubt.

Do not engage with any unsolicited communications from a bank. You pick up a phone, dial the number on the back of your card and speak to someone which you establish communication with via methods you know.

Unfortunately in your case I don’t think you’re going to get anything back from ABSA. Expensive school fees I’m afraid.

Some overseas banks in Europe, on their apps, have an option to check who is calling you. You can check whether the bank is currently phoning you or not. In SA, with fewer networks, we're not capable of doing this.

In SA the same is possible. If your bank is calling you, the app should receive a notification that a call is being made and that it's really the bank calling you.

 

[Mirai]

Just for the record absa does use what'sapp to notify you off fraudulent transactions have a number of items through it over the years, however in instances where the msg was delayed or incorrect response I called the number of the fraud department immediately for human assistance with zero issues.

Correct, they also use Whatsapp.

But calling their line sucks big time.

It's not as easy as you present it here. And you have to struggle with their support.

 

[Kyle15]

I've received WhatsApp's from ABSA asking to approve a possible fraudulent transaction. The question I have is why would you respond anything other than its fraud if you didn't personally initiate the transaction. Also for almost every transaction ABSA sends a verification to the app on the primary registered device, where I believe changing the primary device requires facial recognition of some sort. And that's the primary device i.e. my phone, so even if my wife tries to pay the maid on internet banking I need to login and authorize it.

Really sorry this happened to you and hopefully you get some sort of resolution.

 

[Ams1979]

ABSA had me running through hoops when I assisted my mom with Fraud of R 150 000 in her account. In the end they said her account was compromised and they are not going to assist, due to negligence on my mom side.