The BDO skimming scheme continues into July, but BDO Unibank has been quick to assure their clients reporting several new instances of unauthorized transactions from their accounts: “”We’re investigating the matter now. We’ll revert back to you once findings have been made,” said the bank’s Corporate Communications Department in a text message to the media.
These reports coincide with posts on social media from bank-goers purporting unauthorized withdrawals from their accounts; the transactions were dated 27 June 2017.
Last 16 June 2017, BDO received reports of compromised automated teller machines (ATMs) from clients complaining of unauthorized withdrawals from their accounts. BDO in a statement told its clients: “Customers with unauthorized transactions may reach out to the bank via formal channels so that their cases may be properly investigated and, where confirmed as impacted, may be reimbursed… BDO would like to reassure the public that it exerts all efforts to protect its cardholders and their transactions.”
The Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas has since announced that these 16th of June transactions were due to a localized skimming hack, pointing to a total of seven compromised ATMs. “What happened was a very localized card skimming attack on a few BDO ATM terminals,” said BSP Deputy Governor Nestor A. Espenilla Jr. He also told the media that the BSP is looking into possible administrative liabilities of BDO and the appropriate sanctions.
