Santander Argentina has shared a series of recommendations with its customers to prevent cyber-fraud and ensure the secure use of its digital channels such as online banking, telephone banking or the bank's app.
Buenos Aires, 14 April 2020.
In recent days, as more information about the coronavirus pandemic (covid-19) is circulated, viral messages have been offering alleged government subsidies for informal or unemployed workers and requesting that bank details be updated, among other schemes. These are messages created to deceive users, obtain their details, impersonate them and even hack into their personal or bank accounts.
For this reason, Santander has put together a series of security recommendations to ensure its customers are using the bank's channels securely and do not fall victim to these scams. These tips apply to the channels of any bank and are very important at a time when bank transactions are only completed digitally:
- Never disclose your security credentials to anyone; we will never ask you for them. Santander will never ask you to enter your security credentials, your coordinate card details or your token via an email, social media, WhatsApp chain messages or SMS.
- No bank channel will ask you to enter all of your card or account details, and even less so if these details are requested urgently.
- Our social media have a validation mechanism.
- Check that the bank's URL is secure; it should start with HTTPS or show a padlock.
- Do not use ATMs if you are following a stranger's instructions over the phone.
- We will never ask for your security credentials to give you a prize, or send you an SMS or WhatsApp message. We will not ask you to make a prior payment or transfer.
- Usage alerts: On Santander online banking, you can select the alerts you wish to receive concerning your credit card activity as it happens.
- If you receive a phone call, email or message on behalf of any credit card company asking you to disclose your card's details, hang up immediately and call the phone numbers which appear on the back of your card.
Additionally, Santander's official website contains an information and prevention section called "Operá Seguro" where you can find recommendations on how to choose and protect your security credentials, how to protect your personal computer, avoid phishing (social engineering for data theft) and smishing (social engineering with text messages) on mobile phones and electronic devices, as well as skimming (theft of credit or debit card information when you use them at ATMs and retailers) or vishing (phone call to deceive people and obtain sensitive information). These examples of cyber-fraud are common worldwide. For more information, go to https://www.santander.com.ar/banco/online/personas/canales-de-atencion/opera-seguro
About Santander in Argentina and the world
Santander Argentina is the country's leading private bank by savings (deposits plus common funds) and lending volume. The entity has 430 traditional branches, 8 social integration branches, 6 digital branches, 3 Work Cafés, more than 3.7 million customers (including 2.2 million digital customers, more than 320,000 microbusinesses and small- and medium-sized enterprises and 1,300 corporate companies), more than 8,300 employees and operates in 22 provinces and in Buenos Aires. Santander Argentina is developing an extensive responsible banking programme that focuses on higher education; through Santander Universities, it has over 86 partnership agreements in place with public and private universities in the country.
