A young Nigerian lady identified as Wuraola has taken to social media to express her deep frustration and heartbreak after thieves who stole her phone reportedly used her bank account to borrow a huge sum of N198,000.
In a trending TikTok post, the lady recounted how what began as a simple case of phone theft quickly turned into a full-blown financial nightmare. She explained that after her phone went missing, she assumed her bank account was safe — until she began receiving loan notifications showing that someone had used her account to secure a ₦198K loan.
Lady recounts her heartbreaking experience
According to Wuraola, she was left completely speechless when she realized that the thieves not only gained access to her banking information but also successfully borrowed money in her name. She revealed that she did not have her bank app installed on the stolen device, which made the situation even more confusing for her.
Sharing her thoughts on the platform, she wrote that she’s still trying to figure out how the transaction was even possible. “I don’t have bank app on my phone 📱. I’m still thinking how was it possible to borrow money with code,” she lamented.
Her story quickly gained traction online, attracting sympathy from netizens who couldn’t believe how easily her account was compromised. Many expressed concern about the growing number of digital fraud cases linked to stolen phones and unsecured mobile banking systems.
Netizens react and share similar experiences
One user, identified as @Mosh, questioned how the thieves were able to gain access to her financial accounts without her authentication details. “How do they log in? My phone has been stolen a couple of times, but they can’t access my account. They don’t have my token, neither do they have my pins. How did they do it?” he asked in disbelief.
Another TikTok user, @💞Joyous_Luv💘, sympathized with her and shared a similar experience, saying: “Urs is small na… They stole my phone and borrowed 450K from my Access account because it’s my salary account. They also withdrew my 200K from GTB. I cried for months. I just thank God for everything.”
Online safety concerns grow
The heartbreaking incident has reignited conversations around digital banking safety, with many users urging banks to strengthen their security systems and educate customers on how to protect their financial data in case of theft.
Some commenters advised users to immediately block their SIM cards and deactivate their USSD or mobile banking features as soon as their phones get stolen. Others emphasized the importance of using two-factor authentication and ensuring personal data is not easily accessible on stolen devices.
In her emotional post, Wuraola captioned: “My life is so private that nobody knows that when they stole my phone and no money in my account, they borrowed 198K from my account — GTB.”
Her post serves as a cautionary tale for smartphone users across Nigeria, highlighting the urgent need for vigilance in safeguarding digital and financial information.