Urgent Statement from Banco Santander: If You Make This Gesture, There Will Be No Turning Back

Banco Santander has issued an urgent warning to its customers. It has done so after detecting an increase in fraud attempts using a technique known as spoofing.

This practice involves impersonating the bank's identity through phone calls and text messages. All with the aim of deceiving users into sharing sensitive data. In light of this situation, the entity has reminded its customers of the importance of acting cautiously in the face of any suspicious communication.

Concern about this type of scam has been increasing. Cybercriminals have perfected their strategies to make victims believe they are interacting with their trusted bank.

In many cases, fraudulent messages appear in the same legitimate conversation threads that customers have had with Banco Santander. This undoubtedly makes identifying the scam even more difficult.

This Is How Spoofing Works and Why It Is So Dangerous

Spoofing is a fraud modality that involves falsifying the sender's identity of a call or message. Scammers manage to make the phone number that appears on the screen match Banco Santander's official one. Thus, they manage to generate trust in the victim.

In some cases, they even manage to insert messages into authentic conversation threads, making them appear as official bank notifications. During the call, scammers often provide the customer's personal information to make the scam more credible.

From there, they try to persuade the victim to reveal online banking access data, security codes, or any information that allows them to take control. In other instances, text messages include fraudulent links that redirect to websites designed to steal banking credentials.

The sophistication of this technique causes many people to fall into the trap without suspecting it. The sense of urgency with which criminals formulate their messages and calls contributes to victims acting without thinking. They put their finances at risk.

Banco Santander Recommends Acting with Caution

In response to the increase in fraud attempts, Santander has strengthened its communication with customers so they can identify this type of scam and avoid falling for it. The entity reminds that it will never request personal information such as passwords, security codes, or access keys by phone, text message, or email.

To avoid falling victim to this type of scam, it is essential to always verify the authenticity of received calls and messages. In the face of any suspicious communication, the most advisable action is to contact Banco Santander directly through its official channels. Do not provide sensitive information under any circumstances.

Calmness is a key factor in not falling for this fraud. Scammers usually create a sense of urgency for customers to act without thinking. If a call is received requesting personal information or indicating there is an urgent problem with the account, it is best to hang up and verify the situation directly with the bank.

What to Do If You Have Been a Victim of Spoofing

If a customer has shared personal data with scammers or detected movements in their account, Santander recommends taking immediate action. The first step is to contact the bank to report the situation and block account access if necessary.

Changing access credentials and activating additional security measures can help prevent criminals from continuing to use the obtained information. It is also important to file a report with the competent authorities. Victims' collaboration with law enforcement can be key to stopping this type of crime.