The bank, in a formal statement issued on Sunday, described the claims as “untrue” and “baseless,” reaffirming its focus on maintaining the safety and security of customers’ funds.

The controversy began when a social media influencer, Martins Otse, popularly known as “VeryDarkMan,’ alleged that N500 million belonging to the family of a deceased customer was unaccounted for in their Access Bank account. 

According to Otse, the deceased individual had reportedly informed his family about funds held across various accounts, including the said amount with Access Bank.

In its response, Access Bank refuted the claims, stating, “There is no N500 million or any other fund or amount missing from the subject customer’s account or from any other customer’s account with us.” 

The bank further clarified that it operates with the highest ethical standards, adding that it had thoroughly investigated the allegations alongside other independent stakeholders in the banking sector, who all reached the same conclusion.

The statement also noted the importance of relying on verified information, saying, “We must advise the public not to rely on or believe sensational and unverified claims that are designed to titillate and mislead the public.”

Addressing issues over the allegations, Access Bank reiterated its stand on protecting customer interests while respecting privacy laws. The bank assured the public that it remains fully committed to serving its customers with transparency and integrity.

Even with the bank’s clarification, Martins Otse has challenged the institution’s response. He questioned discrepancies in the deceased customer’s bank statements, writing, “I just saw your response to the allegations of the missing 500 million naira from a dead client account. My first question to Access Bank is, why did the bank statement skip from 2016 to 2020? Where are the statements of 2017, 2018, and 2019?”

The allegations led to different reactions on social media, with users calling for more clarity and accountability. Although Access Bank continues to urge customers and the public to disregard unfounded claims.

The post Access Bank Refutes Allegations of Missing Funds in Viral Video appeared first on Tech | Business | Economy.

The Fintech company vehemently denied allegations of incompetency and fraudulent activities made against the company. 

The video, which circulated on platforms such as TikTok, Twitter, and WhatsApp, accused OPay of mishandling certain agent accounts, but the fintech company says this happened over two years ago, on August 23, 2021.

In an official statement released, OPay assured its esteemed customers that the incident in question had been promptly addressed in collaboration with relevant stakeholders at the time. The company asserted that corrective actions were taken, and since then, OPay has continuously educated and sensitized its users about account data security. 

To enhance user safety, OPay has implemented robust security measures, including BVN verification and Face ID verification. 

The company also highlighted its round-the-clock Customer Service, available to assist users with any concerns.

OPay urged its customers and the general public to dismiss the content of the viral video, emphasizing that it was misleading and intended to spread false information. The company reaffirmed its commitment to safeguarding user data, citing it as their utmost priority. OPay, licensed by the Central Bank of Nigeria and insured by the NDIC, boasts a user base of over 40 million, with 500,000 agents and 150,000 merchants across Nigeria. 

OPay reemphasized its dedication to ensuring financial inclusion through technology, promoting shared prosperity, and offering a wide range of services beyond banking. The company, founded by Opera Norway AS Group, operates in several emerging markets globally, including Mexico, Egypt, Pakistan, and Nigeria, where it serves millions of users with seamless payment, transfer, loan, savings, and other essential services.

As written in the statement:

“Dear esteemed customer,

Our attention has been drawn to a video that resurfaced on some social media platforms (Tik Tok, Twitter & WhatsApp) regarding alleged fraudulent activities on some OPay Agent accounts. This incident occurred over 2 years ago (August 23, 2021) and we took the right and appropriate actions with the relevant stakeholders to resolve the stated issues.

From that point onward, we have periodically educated and sensitized our customers about account data security, encouraging them not to fall victim to malicious information, fraud, and scams. In order to further protect our users, we have taken significant measures to protect customer data and accounts by continuously upgrading our security system and adding extra layers of security measures such as BVN verification, and Face ID verification. Furthermore, we also provide 24-hour Customer Service to help our customers resolve any issue. We implore our customers and the general public to disregard the video and its content and beware of individuals and groups of people who peddle wrong information.

We wish to reiterate our unwavering commitment to protecting our users from fraudulent activity or scams as customer data protection is our priority. OPay is a leading digital payment platform licensed by the CBN and insured by NDIC with over 40m users, 500,000 agents, and 150,000 merchants in Nigeria and remains committed to providing the best service and user experience to its valued customers.

Signed: Management”

The post OPay Reacts to Viral Video, Allegations of Fraud appeared first on Tech | Business | Economy.