Fake contests and phishing scams surge, warns Cyprus Consumers Association

The Cyprus Consumers Association (CSC) has issued a warning about a surge in consumer fraud, where cunning individuals employ various tricks to extort money from unsuspecting victims. The CSC has received numerous complaints about attempts to deceive consumers through SMS, emails, and mobile apps, urging the public to exercise caution.

Fraudsters often send emails that appear to be from legitimate businesses, using company logos and urgent language to steal personal information. These emails mimic official communications and prompt consumers to click on a link or call a number to verify or reactivate an account. In other cases, consumers are lured by misleading ads that promise gift vouchers from chain stores or free airline tickets. Victims are asked to follow a link, answer questions, and provide personal details, which can lead to unauthorized charges.

Social media is also a common platform for fraud, with scammers offering loans on favorable terms or promoting hotel discounts that require untraceable payments. These offers often ask consumers to pay via cash, bank transfer, or virtual currencies like Bitcoin, making it nearly impossible to recover the money if something goes wrong.

The CSC advises consumers to be cautious when receiving such communications. Before taking any action, they should compare the sender’s address with previous legitimate messages, check for spelling or grammatical errors, and avoid clicking on unfamiliar links or downloading attachments. In the case of hotel offers, the CSC warns that payment methods like cash or Bitcoin are red flags and encourages consumers to verify that the website provides full contact details and legitimate policies.

Consumers who suspect fraud are urged to contact the company directly, report the issue to the CSC via email at info@katanalotis.org.cy or phone at 22516112, and notify the Cyprus Police at police@police.gov.cy.

[Summary of Yiannis Ioannou's original story in Greek published in Kathimerini's Cyprus edition]