Hackers have penetrated internet banking facilities and gained access to the accounts of clients of three major banks, the Cape Times reported on Tuesday.
Its website said hackers had in the past three months gained access to the online accounts of clients from First National Bank, Standard and Absa banks.
They stole thousands of rands.
The hackers had found a way of gaining entry to personal or business accounts and then transferring money from these accounts to either cellphone or Telkom prepaid accounts.
All three banks confirmed on Monday that their systems have been breached.
Last week, a hacker gained into the account of Boaz Chilala, a First National Bank (FNB) client and stole R10 500.
FNB declined to say whether the money taken from Chilala’s bank account had been transferred into a cellphone prepaid account.
Chris Kotze, spokesperson for FNB Online, said Chilala would be reimbursed.
All three banks described the breaches as isolated incidents, but said they were investigating. – Sapa