The Central Office for the Fight Against Organised and Transnational Crime (GCCCOT), a body of the Public Prosecutor’s Office (PGR), announced on Saturday that it is investigating a fraudulent scheme involving the withdrawal of money from inactive bank accounts at a commercial bank, allegedly carried out by employees.
In a press release, the GCCCOT said the investigation followed a complaint lodged by a national financial institution against its employees. According to the office, the scheme involved identifying customer bank accounts that had been inactive for more than 180 days (six months) and using false or forged documents to reactivate them. Debit cards were then issued and used to withdraw money or make payments through point-of-sale (POS) terminals.
According to the GCCCOT, some employees of the financial institution involved in the scheme have already been arrested and charged with alleged offences of fraud involving electronic payment instruments, criminal association, money laundering, document forgery and use of false documents.
Aware that practices of this nature may also be occurring at other financial institutions, the GCCCOT said it would extend its investigations to other entities in the sector, within the scope of its legal powers, in order to establish whether similar cases exist, identify those responsible and hold them accountable.
The GCCCOT reiterated its commitment to preventing and combating organised and economic and financial crime.
Source: Carta de Moçambique