A former FNB employee has been sentenced to five years in prison for committing fraud and cybercrime that shocked many across South Africa. Lusanda Gloria Qose, who worked at FNB’s Pier 14 branch in Gqeberha, used her position to steal hundreds of thousands of rands from a senior citizen’s bank accounts.
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What Happened?
Qose, aged 35, worked as a sales and service consultant at First National Bank. Between January and April 2024, she used her internal access at the bank to steal R245,000 from 68-year-old Mlungwana Maranti, who had accounts with the bank.
According to The Citizen, Qose secretly changed the victim’s cellphone number on the bank’s system so that OTPs (One-Time PINs) were sent to her instead of the customer. This gave her full access to his accounts.
She then ordered a duplicate bank card and transferred money between his accounts, making several ATM withdrawals over a three-month period.
The Shocking Details
- The FNB employee used her login credentials to bypass security.
- She diverted OTPs and created a second card linked to the victim’s accounts.
- Over R245,000 was withdrawn from the victim’s Money Maximiser and Encore accounts.
- The fraud was done without the customer’s knowledge or consent.
While the bank eventually refunded the stolen money, the emotional impact on the victim was far worse. In his statement, Maranti said he felt devastated and even thought about taking his own life due to the loss of his retirement savings.
Court Outcome
Qose pleaded guilty to fraud, cyber fraud, and the unlawful use of access credentials. She told the court that she committed the crime due to financial stress and that she was a single mother to two children aged 13 and 17. She also said she regretted her actions.
She had already repaid R87,000 from her pension fund, which the court considered during sentencing. However, the court found that the seriousness of the crime and the betrayal of trust outweighed any personal circumstances.
The court sentenced her to five years in prison, saying her role as a trusted FNB employee made the crime worse.
A Breach of Trust
The National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) said the case highlights the dangers of insider fraud in the banking sector. Advocate Barry Madolo, head of the Eastern Cape NPA, said the sentence sends a strong message that those who abuse their positions will face serious consequences.
According to the NPA, insider fraud like this is becoming more common and threatens the safety of the entire banking system. The public relies on banks to protect their money, and when employees violate that trust, it damages confidence in the whole system.
What Can Be Learnt?
This case is a reminder for both banks and customers to stay alert:
- Customers should regularly check their accounts and immediately report any suspicious activity.
- Banks need to strengthen their internal systems to prevent employee abuse of access.
- Staff members must be held accountable if they misuse sensitive information or tools.
Moving Forward
Cases like this show the importance of proper monitoring inside financial institutions. It’s not just external hackers that banks need to worry about; FNB employees and other bank staff with internal access can pose just as big a risk if controls are weak.
Qose’s case also reminds us that no matter the personal circumstances, financial crimes, especially against vulnerable citizens, carry serious legal consequences.
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The sentencing of this FNB employee highlights how insider fraud can have devastating effects on innocent victims. While the bank recovered the funds, the emotional toll on the victim was severe. The justice system has taken a firm stance against such crimes, and the case serves as a strong warning to those who misuse their positions of trust.