Hundreds of Santander customers in Greater Poland fell victim to an organised theft of money from their accounts. How did these incidents happen, who lost funds and what is the bank doing about it? Find out the latest facts about the fraud and learn how to protect yourself from the next wave of attacks.
How the Money Was Stolen
The theft of money from Santander customers in Greater Poland was exceptionally wide-ranging. The police registered nearly 70 reports of unauthorised withdrawals, and the number of victims exceeded 235 people, with total losses of over PLN 5 million. The perpetrators acted quickly and professionally, using so-called „skimming overlays” installed on ATMs of a partner network. These overlays capture card data and PINs, and then drain individual accounts in various cities, from Kraków to Wrocław.
MONEY DISAPPEARING FROM ACCOUNTS The police in the Kuyavian-Pomeranian and Greater Poland voivodeships are conducting proceedings concerning money disappearing from customers’ accounts at one of the banks. Since Saturday, officers have received over 50 reports in Kuyavian-Pomerania and nearly 70 in Poznań. All the reports concern unauthorised withdrawals from individual accounts. The police do not disclose which bank is involved. People who noticed suspicious transactions should immediately report to the police, bringing their ID card, account number and account history showing the unauthorised withdrawals.
PIENIĄDZE ZNIKAJĄ Z KONT
Policja w województwach kujawsko-pomorskim i wielkopolskim prowadzi postępowanie w sprawie znikających pieniędzy z kont klientów jednego z banków. Od soboty funkcjonariusze przyjęli ponad 50 zawiadomień w Kujawsko-Pomorskiem i prawie 70 w Poznaniu.… pic.twitter.com/eUGmayEEya
The victims were mainly individual customers and micro-entrepreneurs using ATMs in Greater Poland and neighbouring voivodeships. Unauthorised transactions ranged from several hundred to several thousand zloty, including life savings.
How the Perpetrators Operated
The criminals built specialised infrastructure, installing overlays on selected ATMs of a network partnering with Santander. The overlay allowed them to capture data, which was then used to withdraw funds in other Polish cities. Such activity points to an organised group with access to technology and a clear plan.
Santander’s Response – Statement
Santander immediately issued a statement assuring customers that their funds are safe. After the irregularities were detected, all threatened cards were secured, and the bank began an in-depth analysis in cooperation with the ATM operator and the police. The bank announced that lost money will be refunded by Monday and has also implemented procedures to prevent further criminal activity.
BANK SANTANDER ZWRÓCI KLIENTOM SKRADZIONE Z KONT PIENIĄDZE – PAP
How many people were affected and what is the scale of losses?
According to the latest data, the number of victims exceeded 235 people, and total losses amounted to over PLN 5 million. Reports continue to come in from both Greater Poland and neighbouring regions, which indicates the wide reach of this criminal operation.
How to Protect Yourself from This Kind of Theft?
Always check the appearance of an ATM before using it. Overlays may stick out, have unusual elements or look suspicious.
Do not make transactions at ATMs that raise concern.
Regularly monitor your account and report every suspicious transaction.
Enable SMS notifications for every withdrawal from your account.
The bank is rolling out additional security measures and cooperating with the ATM operator and law enforcement, while urging everyone to report every case.
