Newsroom
A 55-year-old man in Paphos is the latest victim of an online scam that cost him a staggering €17,000 after he clicked on what appeared to be a routine government fine notification.
According to police, the man received a text message on Monday claiming he had an outstanding fine of €85. The message included a link that took him to what looked like an official website, offering the option to pay the fine immediately.
Thinking it was legitimate, he followed the instructions, but within moments, he got a message from his bank notifying him of two large transfers made from his account, totaling €17,000, to recipients unknown to him.
Realizing something was off, the man reported the incident to police. The case is now being investigated by the Paphos Criminal Investigation Department, with support from the Cyprus Anti-Corruption Commission (CAC).
Authorities say this type of fraud is becoming increasingly common and are once again urging the public to never click on suspicious links or enter personal or banking information without verifying the source.
“This is exactly the kind of scam we’ve been warning about,” an official said. “If you receive a fine or payment notice via text or email, always double-check with the relevant authority directly before taking action.”
Anyone who thinks they may have received a similar message or been scammed is urged to contact their bank immediately and report it to the police.
