"Return" money is transferred from other banks to ACB

Regarding the case of a business in Ho Chi Minh City accusing Asia Commercial Joint Stock Bank (ACB) of withdrawing money from a check with a fake signature and seal, ACB has just provided feedback information to VietNamNet Newspaper.

Specifically, ACB informed about the transfer content recorded as "withdrawing a check" for the amount of 95 million VND that RIIN Group Company (the unit that complained about the loss of money in the account) received on March 5 from a mysterious person.

Previously, a representative of RIIN Group said that the company requested ACB to refund the amount of 95 million VND before March 6. On March 5, a stranger called Mr. Nguyen Duy Thinh (Director and legal representative of RIIN Group), claiming to be the person who withdrew the check and promised to return the money. Immediately, the company's account received the amount of 95 million VND with the content "transferring money to withdraw the check".

The company did not agree with the above money transfer content and sent an email to ACB to ask for the bank's opinion on the company's use of the above amount.

acb stock price.jpg
The check was said to be counterfeit by Riin Group.

Responding to VietNamNet, ACB said that on March 5, the bank received an email from Riin Group informing the company that the money was refunded from the check beneficiary along with a photo of the message. However, the message content was not the same as the content RIIN Group provided to the press.

“Due to regulations on customer information security, ACB cannot provide customer content information or detailed screenshots to the press, except in cases where provision is required by law,” ACB responded.

ACB affirms that a third party transferring money into the company's account is a civil transaction between the third party and the customer, ACB has no right to comment on the use of money in the customer's account.

Furthermore, the information about the sender returning the money and the content of the money transfer transaction are shown in the money transfer transaction. The money is transferred from another bank to ACB. ACB does not execute this money transfer order.

“ACB has evidence that the remitter and the company’s legal representative had discussions with each other before the money transfer to ACB was made. ACB will provide evidence to the investigation agency upon request,” the bank representative affirmed.

Transfer the case to the investigation agency

Previously, on March 5, ACB also responded in writing to customers, affirming that it would always fully fulfill its responsibility to support customers according to the agreement signed between customers and ACB on the terms and conditions of using services at ACB.

Regarding the customer's request for a refund (before the money was transferred by a stranger), ACB believes that without the conclusion of an independent appraisal agency or competent authority, the bank does not have enough basis to consider a refund.

acb hoang dao thuy.jpg
ACB Hoang Dao Thuy (Hanoi), where Riin Group said the withdrawal of 95 million VND from the company took place on the afternoon of February 27.

Regarding the information that RIIN Group's account was locked on the morning of February 27 (the company complained that on the afternoon of the same day, the company's account was withdrawn 95 million from a check drawn at ACB Hoang Dao Thuy Transaction Office, Hanoi), the bank said that the customer's online transaction login user was locked on February 27 due to entering the wrong password more than 5 times according to regulations.

ACB also clarified the information sent to the customer by email asking "if you want ACB to continue investigating or not" after the customer reported receiving 95 million VND in their account on March 5.

“On the same day, ACB sent a second reply to customer Thinh's refund request before March 6 (sent a letter via post, email, and phone call to notify the customer) and sent a confirmation email, called customer Thinh to discuss whether the customer would continue to request ACB to verify the check order or not so that ACB could continue to verify."

ACB affirmed that it always provides transparent information and fulfills its responsibilities to protect the legitimate rights of customers. After receiving the incident, ACB took many actions.

ACB said it had invited the customer to the headquarters twice to resolve the customer's rights, but the customer refused to do so. ACB continued to invite the customer to the headquarters a third time to resolve the customer's rights this week.

Along with that, ACB reported the incident to the State Bank and transferred the file to the investigation agencies in Hanoi, Da Nang, and Ho Chi Minh City because it found signs of suspicion of a professional fraud ring behind it.

According to ACB, the bank sent a third invitation letter to invite the customer to work on March 15 regarding the following contents: ACB's solution for the refund request; the customer completed the procedures for ACB to conduct an investigation according to regulations; the customer updated the latest seal and signature of the legal representative to avoid the risk of account abuse;...