As part of measures to

check the swelling fraud over Automated Teller Machines (ATM), the Central Banking of Nigeria (CBN) and the Consumer Protection Council (CPC) have commenced plans to begin biometric data capture on users.

Dropping the hint with newsmen  in Port Harcourt during a consumer parliament for telecom users, assistant Chief Surveillance Enforcement Officer of CPC, Mrs Boladale Adeyinka said the measure  would enhance security of data of users.

She said though the Central Bank had the regulatory mandate over banking activities, the CPC was worried over increasing complaints by bank customers over waddling of their accounts by bank fraudsters, who capitalise on the shortcomings on the present ATM machines.

Part of the plan she stated was to move from the ordinary PIN Code to a more secure system similar to the master card whereby the biometric data of users including finger prints would help assessment of account through ATM.

With the biometric data capture, she argued that bank theft would be reduced since the card can only accept the user once the finger prints are identified.

In order to make the new policy workable, she disclosed that both government agencies have firmed agreements and that before the end of the year all ATM cards users would be registered in their different banks”, similar to the SIM Card registration exercise by the network providers”.

Mrs Adeyemi noted that a joint agreement have been reached and soon banks would be communicated of the development.

Commenting on complaints made by telecom users over shortfalls experienced in network service, the CPC Surveillance and Enforcement Officer said the agency has powers to address the plight of customers as well.

She explained that CPC plays mediatory and enforcement by being a body of last resort, if the customer had exhausted all avenues of complaints without results.

The CPC senior official therefore tasked telecom service providers to live up to expectation as consumers have right to enjoy services for money paid.