Fraudsters Unveil New Method to Steal Money from Bank Accounts

New Scam Targeting Bank Customers

Scammers have developed a sophisticated method to steal personal data and money from customers of certain banks across Europe.
By sending text messages to mobile phones, they inform users that their banking app is about to expire, providing detailed instructions on how to renew it, thus ensnaring them in a trap.

Specifically, four banks are reportedly affected by this widespread scam: Santander, ING, BNP Paribas, and Alior Bank.
Account holders from these institutions are urged to be extremely cautious of any suspicious messages or emails received on their devices, as falling victim to this deception could lead to emptied accounts.

How the New Scam Operates

This latest scam, which takes advantage of unsuspecting bank account owners, is just one of many fraudulent schemes prevalent online today, primarily functioning via text messages.

The target user is alerted about an impending expiration of their banking app.
The message text prompts them to quickly renew the app by clicking on the provided website link.
However, the scam lies within that very link, which redirects the victim to a counterfeit website masquerading as a legitimate banking login page.

Once the victim enters their credentials, the stolen data is captured by the criminals.
This stolen information can then be used to activate the bank’s mobile application on devices controlled by the scammers.
As a result, this can lead to unauthorized withdrawals from the compromised bank account.

Experts recommend that when receiving such messages claiming to be from a bank, the first step is to always verify the web address that appears in the link.
If there are any doubts regarding its authenticity, it’s advisable to immediately close the message.
Moreover, if a user has already submitted personal information and later realizes they’ve been scammed, the immediate action should be to contact their bank.

Be Aware of Banking Scams

Unfortunately, there are numerous methods employed by scammers to illegally access bank accounts, usually involving deceptive messages, emails, or online payment operations.
Hence, consumer associations and IT experts have long been alerting users about the necessary precautions to take when receiving suspicious emails or messages.

Opening links, scanning QR codes, or entering sensitive data on unknown websites can often result in scams.
Banks typically do not utilize these online methods to renew applications or change account credentials or contract terms.
Therefore, it is crucial to promptly contact one’s bank whenever suspicious emails or messages are encountered.