A 55-year-old foreign national, owner of a Cyprus-based company, fell victim to an online scam in Paphos after clicking on a fraudulent link sent to him via SMS, according to Sigma correspondent Marios Ignatiou.
The man reported to police that on 15 June, he received a text message claiming he owed an €85 fine, which could supposedly be paid through an embedded link.
Believing it to be an official notice, he entered his personal and card details into the fake website.
Hours later, he discovered that €17,000 had been withdrawn from his bank account without his authorisation.
The online scam in Paphos is being investigated by the local CID. Authorities have once again urged the public not to enter personal or banking information into links received via SMS or email without verifying their legitimacy.
Online scams of this nature are becoming increasingly common in Cyprus and across Europe. Authorities urge residents to remain vigilant and verify any suspicious messages. “Never click on links or enter sensitive data without checking the sender,” said a police spokesperson. The police recommend reporting such attempts immediately to help prevent future incidents.
Also read: Police investigate online fraud case involving large sum of money
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