Santander app data harvesting

Nebulous2

I log in to all my bank accounts on the 1st of every month, usually on the apps on my phone and shuffle money around.

The Santander app (android) is now asking the purpose of the transfer. It is a mandatory field, it wont let me proceed until I've filled it in.

Thankfully there is an 'anything else' field, but not a 'mind your own business' one.

Takmon

Nebulous2 wrote: »

I log in to all my bank accounts on the 1st of every month, usually on the apps on my phone and shuffle money around.

The Santander app (android) is now asking the purpose of the transfer. It is a mandatory field, it wont let me proceed until I've filled it in.

Thankfully there is an 'anything else' field, but not a 'mind your own business' one.

It's pretty obvious that they are asking this to try and prevent people transferring money due to a scam and not for data harvesting. Most banks present you with a message about fraudulent transactions and depending on which option you choose Santander give you a slightly different message.

This is something that people who are silly enough to transfer money to scammers think the banks should be doing.

SnowTiger

Takmon wrote: »

It's pretty obvious that they are asking this to try and prevent people transferring money due to a scam and not for data harvesting. Most banks present you with a message about fraudulent transactions and depending on which option you choose Santander give you a slightly different message.

This is something that people who are silly enough to transfer money to scammers think the banks should be doing.

Yep. Probably linked to this:

Victims of bank transfer scams will get refunded by their bank under a new reimbursement scheme agreed by banks, launching on 28 May this year.

[...]

A new code requires banks, building societies and other payment services providers to put more measures in place to protect customers from bank transfer fraud. And crucially, enables victims of this type of scam to get their losses refunded by their bank if they have done nothing wrong.

I guess this is one of the measures Santander has put in place. Sadly it's missing a 'I am being scammed' check box.

Nasqueron

It's the same on the website when you do a new transfer, if you tell it you are moving money to a new person they remind you about being scammed

Ergates

Nebulous2 wrote: »

I log in to all my bank accounts on the 1st of every month, usually on the apps on my phone and shuffle money around.

The Santander app (android) is now asking the purpose of the transfer. It is a mandatory field, it wont let me proceed until I've filled it in.

Thankfully there is an 'anything else' field, but not a 'mind your own business' one.

That isn't data harvesting, it's a regulatory requirement to combat fraud and money laundering.

18cc

It is not a regulatory requirement to have a 'what is the purpose of your transfer' field...

Ergates

18cc wrote: »

It is not a regulatory requirement to have a 'what is the purpose of your transfer' field...

Not specifically, no. But banks are being required to take steps to combat fraud and money laundering. Some of the details of how they do that are left up to the bank.

From later this year, all money transfers and online card purchases above a certain amount will require an additional level of authentication too. (Some banks will already have this in place)

18cc

Agreed and true but asking what every payment is for is not the way to go...

That said, Monzo does it !

Nebulous2

Nasqueron wrote: »

It's the same on the website when you do a new transfer, if you tell it you are moving money to a new person they remind you about being scammed

This wasn't a new payment. It's one I make every month.

Ergates

18cc wrote: »

...but asking what every payment is for is not the way to go...

Possibly not, but that's the problem with the vague requirements.

aj23_2

The only mind your own business option is to delete the apps and de-register from online banking.

Every method of digital banking is data harvesting. When, where, how, to who.