Urgent Statement to Banco Santander Customers: if You Receive It, Be on Alert

Bad news for Banco Santander customers. It has been detected once again another scam impersonating the bank to obtain users' data. Bank frauds constantly evolve and cybercriminals seek new ways to deceive users.

The latest security alert affects Banco Santander customers, who may receive a text message about an alleged loan mistakenly deposited into their account. This ploy, known as the mistaken loan scam, aims to instill panic in the victim so they act quickly without verifying the message's authenticity.

This Is the Loan Scam Impersonating Banco Santander

The scam begins with an SMS that appears to be from Banco Santander. In the message, the user is informed that they have received a loan by mistake and are asked to return the money to avoid charges. The urgency with which the situation is presented seeks to prevent the victim from stopping to think and following the instructions without questioning them.

When the user responds or follows the message's instructions, the scammers attempt to obtain their personal and banking data. In some cases, they provide phone numbers or fraudulent links that mimic the bank's official website.

In others, they instruct the customer to enter codes on their phone and divert calls to the criminals' number. This allows them to impersonate the user's identity in communications with the bank and authorize fraudulent transactions on their behalf.

María Aperador, a criminologist and cybersecurity specialist, has warned about this fraud through her TikTok account (@mariaperadorcriminologia). The expert explains that this strategy seeks to manipulate the victim's emotions, making them believe they must act urgently to avoid financial consequences.

How to Protect Yourself from This Bank Scam

Cybersecurity experts emphasize the importance of prevention. Upon receiving an SMS of this type, the first step is to be suspicious and take no action without first verifying the message's authenticity. Banco Santander never requests personal or banking information via SMS, so any communication with this type of content should be considered suspicious.

If a message of this nature is received, it is advisable to contact the bank's customer service directly through official channels. It is crucial to avoid clicking on unknown links or providing personal data without first confirming the message's legitimacy.