Santander warns customers about new text message scam which could hand your bank details to criminals
The scam adds fake texts into genuine message threads from the bank, making it virtually impossible for customers to spot
SANTANDER is warning customers about a new "sophisticated" text scam which puts fake texts into genuine message threads.
It has received reports from a number of customers receiving messages pretending to be from the bank - and is urging Brits not to be taken in.
The message says that "suspicious activity" has been detected on the potential victim's account and they need to follow a link on the message to prevent a "lockout".
But it's a scam - with the criminals using specialist software to alter the sender ID so that it appears to come from the bank, with the message inserted into a genuine message chain.
And while Brits are being targeted whether they bank with Santander or not - if you're a genuine customer you could easily be fooled.
A spokeswoman for the bank said: "Sometimes it can be difficult to know if a message is real or not, the way they are written can be almost identical to real texts, and scam texts can even appear from the same number.
How to avoid a scam text message
Here are some tips from Santander on how you can avoid a text message scam:
- A genuine text message from your bank will never ask you to provide passwords, personal or financial informations in a message.
- Your bank will never ask you to click or download a link.
- Your bank will never use language such as "you must act."
- Never share a Santander One Time Passcode (OTP) with another person. Not even a Santander employee.
- Never download software or let anyone log on to your computer or other devices remotely following or during a cold call.
- Never enter your Online Banking details after clicking on a link in an email or text message.
"This is a tactic called ‘number spoofing’, whereby scammers change the phone number seen on a caller ID to make you think it has come from a genuine organisation.
"They are so sophisticated that scam texts appear in the same thread alongside genuine messages."
The warning comes on the day that the bank is launching a new "Scam Avoidance School" to help fight the number of financial scams that are targeted at the over 60s.
Staff in all 806 of its branches across the UK have been taught how to teach customers how to spot email and text scams, as well as covering cashpoint and contactless card fraud too.
Strictly Come Dancing's Len Goodman helped launch the hour-long classes which will take place in-branch next week, after his daughter-in-law was scammed out of £16,000.
Back in January, Natwest urged its customers not to be taken in by a similar scam, which also saw fake messages put into genuine message threads.
HMRC warned about a new scam which sees potential victims left automated messages claiming they are under investigation.
In November, it was announced bank customers who are tricked into transferring money to a fraudster could find it easier to get their money back.
Currently, victims have no legal right to get their money back if they are conned into transferring money by bank transfer.
But the Payments System Regulator (PSR) is considering introducing a compensation scheme for victims.
In the first six months of 2017, more than 19,000 people were victims of transfer scams, costing over £100million.
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