Fake notes withdrawn from ATMs and over the bank counter go unnoticed
PETALING JAYA: Three cases of fake RM100 notes, allegedly withdrawn from ATMs or over the counter at two local banks and one foreign bank this year, went largely unnoticed.
In January, swimming instructor Mohd Azwim Kamarulzaman, 38, lodged a police in Air Keroh, Melaka, after failing to deposit a RM100 note.
He claimed that he withdrew money from an ATM but, when he tried to bank it into a cash deposit machine (CDM) elsewhere, one note was rejected numerous times although the rest were accepted.
He brought the note to the bank where he made the withdrawal and it was confirmed to be fake.
Mohd Azwim later lodged a police report when the bank reportedly denied that the note was withdrawn from one of its ATMs.
Melaka Central District police chief Asst Comm Shaikh Abd Adzis Shaikh Abdullah confirmed that a report had been lodged and the case was being investigated under Section 489B of the Penal Code for counterfeiting.
He added that they also alerted Bank Negara.
Mohd Azwim said the bank later apologised and assured him that it would investigate the matter.
Mohd Azwim’s wife, a businesswoman who declined to be named, said she was very unhappy with the way the matter was handled.
“Until now, we have not been told of any outcome and in the meantime, we are RM100 poorer.
“It is not about losing the money, it’s about the possibility of these fake notes being in circulation and unsuspecting people having the money may be arrested for nothing and end up in jail,” she said.
She also said that she would be writing to the police and Bank Negara to find out how the case was progressing.
In developing this story, The Star submitted several questions to Bank Negara, including whether or not banks are required to scan all cash deposited at their CDMs.
The central bank was also asked what are the standard operating procedures for banks should they discover forged notes, and also what members of the public should do if they come into possession of such notes.
Although the central bank’s corporate communications department thanked the newspaper for providing information about the victims, no replies to the questions were received by press time.
Last year, a Bank Negara statement on its website said the counterfeit RM100 banknotes being widely discussed on social media had caught its attention and it was working closely with the police.
“These are isolated cases as the number of counterfeit banknotes in Malaysia remains low,” the statement added.
Another victim, who declined to be named, said he was grateful to a foreign bank for reimbursing him for the forged banknote he withdrew from an ATM.
“The bank just replaced the note but I wonder if it alerted Bank Negara,” said the engineer, who said the incident occurred in Kuala Lumpur early this year.