A trillion-dollar banking giant says its customers lost about $2 million to fraud in a span of just eight days.
Santander UK says scammers ripped £1.99 million ($2.04 million) from its customers’ accounts between Christmas and January 1st of 2024.
-->The bank revealed the numbers in a push to keep customers vigilant through the holiday season.
Santander says one person lost over £600,000 by falling for a fake investment scheme.
Others were tricked into sending money to fraudsters posing as “recruiters,” causing losses of around £1,700 each.
Overall, each victim lost about £3,354 on average, prompting the bank to warn everyone to stay alert.
“…Customers reported being scammed when buying items online, including clothes purchased on Instagram, as well as football and Taylor Swift tickets purchased on Facebook Marketplace.
On Boxing Day, several claims were made from customers who were contacted by scammers pretending to be their bank.”
Santander recommends people pause and verify recipients before transferring money, carefully research social media deals that seem too good to be true and confirm suspicious calls or messages by hanging up and contacting a known number.
