{"id":100285,"date":"2024-12-24T09:30:00","date_gmt":"2024-12-24T09:30:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/en.econostrum.info\/uk\/?p=100285"},"modified":"2024-12-23T22:03:33","modified_gmt":"2024-12-23T22:03:33","slug":"santander-highlights-top-scam-tactics","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/en.econostrum.info\/uk\/santander-highlights-top-scam-tactics\/","title":{"rendered":"Santander Highlights Top Scam Tactics Preying on Christmas Shoppers"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Scammers now thrive over the Christmas season<\/strong>, which is a time of giving and extravagant spending. False investment schemes, deceptive internet advertisements, and impersonation techniques have all been used to entice victims, with disastrous results for their well-being and financial situation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Santander: Surge in Scams Over Christmas Week<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

The bank disclosed that 596 instances<\/strong> of Authorized Push Payment <\/a>(APP) fraud were reported between December 25, 2023, and January 1, 2024, resulting in losses of \u00a31,999,444.34 Ten frauds totaling \u00a33,971<\/strong> were recorded on Christmas Day alone, while Boxing Day witnessed an even greater rise with 25 scams totaling \u00a345,788.01.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

In one especially serious instance, a customer lost more than \u00a3600,000 to a bogus investment scheme\u2014the largest loss Santander <\/strong>has received this year. Online platforms are being used by scammers to advertise “too good to be true” discounts on in-demand goods and pressure gullible customers into making snap selections.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Pete Staffel,<\/strong> a Behavioural Scientist at Santander, highlighted the dangers: \u201cIt\u2019s that time of year when everyone is looking for that perfect gift, whether it\u2019s the sold-out toy or \u2018something a bit different\u2019. Online adverts are the prime place for finding that dream present \u2013 I even found one the other day, a perfect family game, complete with a video showing how it all worked.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

How the Bank Is Tackling Fraud<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Santander\u2019s fraud team operates around the clock, providing support <\/a>and advice<\/strong> to customers year-round, including the festive period. They report that scams often follow a familiar pattern: fraudsters use convincing adverts or pose as trusted organisations<\/strong> to persuade victims to part with their money.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Customers are advised by the bank to be wary of internet offers, especially those that demand instant payment.<\/strong> The likelihood of being a victim of fraud can be considerably decreased by taking easy steps like checking reviews<\/strong>, making sure payment methods are secure, and avoiding unwanted links.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Santander has started initiatives to inform the public about typical scam techniques, such as phishing emails<\/strong> and phony investment possibilities, in an effort to increase awareness. Additionally, customers are urged to report any suspicious behavior<\/strong> right once so that the bank can minimise losses and prevent transactions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Staying Vigilant During the Holiday Season<\/h2>\n\n\n
\n\n

With scammers showing no signs of slowing down, Santander <\/strong>emphasises the importance of caution during this high-risk period. Fraudulent schemes have become more sophisticated, targeting not just individuals but also businesses.<\/p>\n\n<\/div>\n\n\n

The bank\u2019s key advice includes:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    \n
  • Double-checking the legitimacy of sellers and online platforms.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  • Avoiding urgency tactics used by fraudsters to pressure decisions.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  • Contacting the bank immediately if fraud is suspected.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n

    By staying informed and vigilant, customers can better protect themselves and enjoy a safer holiday season.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

    After nearly \u00a32 million was lost to scammers in a single week, Santander has issued an urgent warning about an increase in scams during the holiday season. The bank’s fraud specialists advise increased vigilance, warning that thieves are taking advantage of the festive rush to target unwary consumers.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":10,"featured_media":100286,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-100285","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-economy","generate-columns","tablet-grid-50","mobile-grid-100","grid-parent","grid-33","no-featured-image-padding"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/en.econostrum.info\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/100285","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/en.econostrum.info\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/en.econostrum.info\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/en.econostrum.info\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/10"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/en.econostrum.info\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=100285"}],"version-history":[{"count":4,"href":"https:\/\/en.econostrum.info\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/100285\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":100304,"href":"https:\/\/en.econostrum.info\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/100285\/revisions\/100304"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/en.econostrum.info\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/100286"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/en.econostrum.info\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=100285"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/en.econostrum.info\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=100285"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/en.econostrum.info\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=100285"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}