KAMPALA – dfcu Bank has Monday July 15 confirmed being hit by a huge fraud that involved loss of billions of customers’ money.
The money, hackers stole from dfcu Bank in May this year is now being reported at $2.6m (about UGX10b) rising from the initial figure of UGX700m.
The bank identified a high-value transfer, and following an audit, a number of discrepancies were identified, sources said.
Corroborating on the same, dfcu management confirmed that Police have been notified on the fraud and that bank staffs are being investigated.
“In May 2019, the bank detected a case of fraud that immediately reported to the police (CID HDQTRS GEF 604/2019) and investigations are on going,” reads a statement released by the bank.
A local publication quoting sources reported that the case was tied to a one Braise Ombuze, a junior bank staff who allegedly manipulated the system and transferred about UGX 10b from customers’ accounts.
Mr. Ombuze has since been charged with the offense of Electronic Fraud and Theft under a reference Vide CID HQTRS GEF 604/2019.
Mr. Braise had been detained at CID head offices in Kibuli Kampala but was bailed out by two sureties, Ambrose Belisya and a one Esther.
Another publication speculated that the heist was masterminded by insiders and outsiders who are well conversant with modern technology used by several banks in Uganda.
It was earlier reported that a forensic audit involving police detectives showed that UGX10b had illegally been withdrawn from the clients accounts.
dfcu didn’t give details of how many customers affected by the huge scam.
It is however, alleged that funds were illegally wired in bits from the dfcu bank accounts at the main branch and sent to accounts of different people, who withdrew it.
This is note the first time dfcu Bank is facing the same.
In March 2013, auditors discovered that UGX730 million was missing at dfcu bank and the bank managers reported the matter to Special Investigations Unit (SIU) at Kireka, a Kampala suburb.
