Moroccan Court Orders Bank of Africa to Repay $100,000 in Hacked Account Case

The customer had noticed a series of unauthorized withdrawals from his account, totaling 104,913.12 dirhams in fifteen days. Faced with the bank’s refusal to reimburse, he took legal action.

Bank of Africa argued that the customer reported the transactions late, possibly disclosed his secret code, or consented to the transactions. The bank also invoked the card’s terms of use, requiring immediate alert in case of suspicious activity.

The customer’s defense countered that the fraudulent transactions originated from abroad, while his card was only used in Morocco. They insisted on the bank’s responsibility in securing accounts and its obligation to prove customer fault.

A court-appointed expert examined the bank statements, concluding that the bank lacked evidence regarding the origin of the transactions or to support its defense. The court then judged the bank entirely responsible for the security of its system and accounts.

The Marrakech Court of Appeal thus confirmed the judgment of the Agadir Commercial Court. Bank of Africa must reimburse the embezzled sums, pay 6,500 dirhams in damages, and cover legal costs. The court reiterated the legal obligation of banks to protect deposits and ensure account security.