Surveillance cameras have led to an 80% drop in fraud at First National Bank’s (FNB) ATMs, the bank said on Monday.
FNB ATM chief executive officer Mike Arnold said cameras had been installed at 75 FNB ATMs countrywide.
”FNB’s investment in this system has saved customers and the bank large sums of money through foiling possible fraudulent activities such as vandalism, card swapping and mugging at ATMs,” said Arnold.
The surveillance system involves placing cameras at various ATM locations to monitor fraudulent activities. These cameras are connected to a 24-hour central control room for live monitoring.
”Where illegal activities take place, armed response units and the South African Police Service are called in to make arrests,” said Arnold.
Fraudulent transactions represent less than 0,1 % of total ATM transactions.
In real terms, however, affected customers suffered great financial loss.
”FNB is determined to fight ATM crime vigorously to ensure that our customers are able to transact safely and securely,” he said.
The system was successfully piloted in Port Elizabeth last year and 537 criminal charges were laid.
It was later rolled out in Gauteng and Cape Town, with plans afoot to deploy cameras at additional sites around the country as more criminal activities are identified. — Sapa