Scams on instant messaging services and platforms are growing in number. Victims who fall into the trap can end up losing vast sums of money. Here we tell you how to spot and prevent these types of cyber attacks.
Technology has had a profound impact on the way we interact with each other. It enables us to communicate in real time through text, chats and social media. Instant messaging services and platforms have become the most popular way for friends, relatives and work colleagues to talk to each other.
Cyber criminals use a wide range of tactics to dupe millions of users into sharing information, making payments, downloading malicious files, and other things.
They usually turn to social engineering and impersonate relatives, work colleagues, headhunters, banks, telecommunications companies and other trusted people and businesses. They use public information (for instance, addressing potential victims by name) and copy profile photos to appear more credible. They also create a sense of urgency to force victims to act quickly, with no time to think.
These are some of the most common scenarios:
Think before responding and protect your data
At Santander we work hard to protect our customers online through awareness campaigns. We recommend following these tips in the event of a scam attempt:
If you suspect something, report it
If you receive a suspicious message, let the impersonated company or organization know about it.
If you think you’ve received a malicious message that could be impersonating Santander, send us a screenshot to reportphishing@gruposantander.com.
If you have given out confidential information or passwords, or spot unwanted transactions in your account, call us immediately on the number found on your card or on our website.