Santander has today (April 26) issued an urgent warning for its new and existing customers amid fears of fraud.
In a newsletter to their customers, the organisation warns that victims may receive a call asking for a money transfer into a bogus account for whatever reason the scammer comes up with.
READ MORE - Edinburgh Santander branch among those to reduce opening hours in Scotland
With an increase in scams where the situation does not need to be unique, it can be more and more tricky to tell what is fake and what isn't.
The fraud warning comes as the banking group said it would be cutting its hours in many of its UK branches - including Edinburgh.
As we reported last week, the move is due to a change in customer behaviour with the changes now meaning that from July 18, its branches will operate from 9.30am to 3pm on weekdays compared to what it is now with them closing at 4.30pm.
But what does the high street bank have to say about the topic?
In the email they have detailed what a fraudster may tell you and how fast it can happen before you realise you've been a victim of a scam.
They add: "They tell you that you've been a victim of fraud and you need to move your money out of your account quickly before it's stolen.
"They seem convincing because they already know some of your information. That's the information you shared when you clicked the link in the text message
"You’re scared, stressed, and confused about the situation but pressured to act quickly. What if, acting in fear, you transferred your money to new account details? The account wasn't in your name, but the fraudsters, posing as your bank, gave you convincing reasons to do so."
There are also several types of scams they want you to look out for.
These include:
- HMRC scams - you can read all about this scam here
- Romance and friendship scams - you can read all about this scam here
- Social engineering (phishing, smishing and remote access scams) - you can read all about this scam here
- Investment scams - you can read all about this scam here
- Purchase scams - you can read all about this scam here
- Impersonation scams - you can read all about this scam here
- Invoice or mandate scams - you can read all about this scam here
- Advance fee scams - you can read all about this scam here
- Mule accounts - you can read all about this scam here
- SIM swapping - you can read all about this scam here
- Identity theft - you can read all about this scam here
- Contactless card fraud - you can read all about this scam here
- Cash machine skimming - you can read all about this scam here
What to Santander say to do?
- Always think carefully before making a payment, especially if it’s a lot of money for you. Speak to someone you trust first, like a friend or family member, before making payments.
- Pay extra attention to the warnings we provide when making a payment. They’re in place to help you bank safely and avoid being scammed.
- Anyone can be easily impersonated, and criminals can make the caller ID, email address or name look exactly like the genuine caller. So, if you receive an email, text or call, verify it’s genuine by phoning them back on a known and trusted number.
- When making a payment, always take the time to complete extra checks to make sure the payee and the payment is genuine. This includes reading reviews, researching companies or websites, and verifying the person or company are who they say they are.
- Don’t allow anyone to access your computer or devices remotely. This is because criminals can ask you to click on a link or download an app.
- Remember, your bank, the police or any trusted organisation will never ask you to withdraw, transfer or send back money from your account. If you’re asked to do this, it’s a scam.
If you're concerned or think you've responded to a scam email or text or given your details out to the wrong people, you should contact us first on 0800 9 123 123 and report it to Action Fraud on 0300 123 2040.
