State Banks Deny
Liability For Internet
Fraud
If you are a customer of
the Banco Nacional (BN)
or the Banco de Costa
Rica (BCR) and use their
online banking services,
best beware, as both
state institutions
announced yesterday that
they are not responsible
for losses suffered by
customers from internet
fraud.
Both banks assure that
their systems are secure
and are impossible to
violate and as such are
not liable to losses
suffered by customers.
During the past several
months a number of BN
and BCR customers have
complained of being
victims of internet
fraud known as "phishing".
Bank customers are duped
into furnishing their
online login and
passwords so that the
thieves can access the
accounts and transfer
funds to their own
accounts.
The state banks, in
individual statements,
have said that customers
who have fallen to this
type of crime should
report to the bank and
file a "denuncia" (complait)
before the Organismo de
Investigación Judicial (OIJ).
The Banco Nacional said
will respond to customer
complaints within 4 or 5
days, while the Banco de
Costa Rica says it will
do so within 30 days.
The banks say that
customers must safeguard
their online login and
password and they cannot
be held responsible if
that information is
provided, albeit
unwittingly, to internet
fraud artists.
So far only the Banco
Nacional and the Banco
de Costa Rica customers
have been victims of
internet fraud. There
have been no reports
from customers of the
other state bank, Banco
Popular, nor customers
of any of the private
banks.
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