A high street banking giant has rung alarm bells, urging the public to be on high alert for scammers during the January sales. This critical warning comes in the wake of disturbing figures from last year which saw customers swindled out of almost £2 million due to bank transfer scams during the same period.
In one harrowing incident, a customer was fleeced of £1,700 by a so-called “recruiter” they met on WhatsApp.
Santander has previously indicated that the average loss from a scam could lead to about £500 being siphoned from an individual’s account. Astoundingly, Santander UK announced that an eye-watering £1,999,444 was spirited away by tricksters via authorised push payment (APP) scams, spanning from Christmas Day to New Year’s Day.
This total involved an exceptionally grievous instance where a person was gulled by an investment scam, parting with upwards of £600,000 – marking the biggest single loss recorded by the bank in 2023.
The festive period is often exploited by nefarious actors as a prime time to execute their deceitful plans, preying on individuals who may be more relaxed and less suspicious amidst the holiday festivities. People captivated by post-Christmas bargains or in search of tickets for imminent events, including concerts, are particularly at risk.
On Christmas Day of the previous year, Birmingham Live accounted for several cases of fraudulent activities which included bogus online sales of apparel via Instagram and falsely advertised tickets for football matches and Taylor Swift concerts circulating on Facebook Marketplace.
As Christmas approaches, impersonation scams tend to surge, posing a threat to individuals relaxing at home. Santander customers reported being targeted by scammers posing as bank officials on Boxing Day.
The scammers continued their efforts into the New Year, with numerous cases of advance fee scams. One instance involved a customer losing £1,700 after paying a fake “recruiter” on WhatsApp to secure a job offer.
According to data from Santander, 596 scams were reported by the bank’s retail and business customers between December 25, 2023, and January 1, 2024. Pete Staffel, Santander UK’s behavioural scientist, cautioned: “Online adverts are the prime place for finding that dream present – I even found one the other day, a perfect family game, complete with a video showing how it all worked. My kids would love it, and only two left in stock. But just before clicking buy, I checked the reviews, it was a scam.”
He added: “Don’t let the build up to Christmas cloud your senses. Scammers don’t take the holiday season off, and whether it’s through ‘buy it now’ ads, impersonating your bank, or offering a too-good-to-be- true investment, they will be looking for ways to be the Grinch that steals more than your Christmas.”
To help customers avoid scams, Santander has provided tips and further fraud awareness advice on its website.
1. Always take time to think before making a payment and pay extra attention to the warnings your bank shows you while making it.
They are in place to help you bank safely and avoid being scammed.
2. Exercise caution when purchasing goods from social media – particularly if the item is sold out everywhere else or being offered at a price that seems too good to be true.
If you haven’t seen the item in person, there’s a high likelihood it could be a scam.
3. Remember, anyone can be easily impersonated, and criminals can manipulate caller identities, email addresses or names to appear genuine.
So, if you receive an email, text or call, verify its authenticity by phoning them back on a known and trusted number.
4. Always take the time to carry out additional checks before making a payment.
This is to ensure both the individual and the payment are legitimate. This could involve reading reviews, researching companies or websites, and verifying the identity of the person or company.
5. Think you’re buying from a friend?
Call them first.
Fraudsters hack people’s social media accounts to sell counterfeit items to their friends. Always communicate in person using a trusted number, not one they’ve provided.
Those concerned about a potential scam can dial 159 – a simple-to-remember number that many banks have adopted. If someone believes they’ve been scammed, they should contact their bank immediately.
Scams can be reported to Action Fraud.
