Newsroom
A 32-year-old woman thought she was saving money on her accommodation. Instead, she lost more than €2,200 to an online scam.
The woman booked a place to stay through an online reservation platform on Aug. 4, according to police.
Later that day, an unknown person contacted her claiming to be the owner of the property. He told her she could secure a lower price if she cancelled her original reservation and booked again through a different travel platform.
He then sent her a link.
Believing she was dealing with the person renting out the accommodation, the woman followed the instructions. On Aug. 11, she transferred more than €2,200 to a bank account she had been given.
But the booking confirmation never arrived.
When she tried to follow up, she discovered there was no new reservation and that she had been scammed. She reported the case Tuesday to the Nicosia Tourist Police.
The Economic Crime Investigation Unit is now investigating.
The case follows a familiar pattern: A customer makes a real booking, receives a convincing message containing details about it, and is then encouraged to leave the trusted platform to receive a discount or avoid a supposed problem.
That knowledge can make the message appear genuine. But the moment someone asks a customer to cancel an existing reservation, follow an unfamiliar link, or transfer money directly to another account, alarm bells should start ringing.
Police advise anyone receiving an unexpected message about a booking to contact the hotel or property directly using the phone number or email address listed on its official website. Do not use the contact details supplied in the suspicious message.
Travellers should also avoid making payments through links sent by text, email, or messaging apps until they have independently confirmed that the request is genuine.
Anyone who has already opened such a link and entered card details should contact their bank immediately and cancel the card.
The promise of a cheaper holiday can be tempting, especially when accommodation prices are high. But in this case, the “discount” turned an ordinary booking into a €2,200 loss.
