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A 62-year-old woman in Nicosia was scammed out of nearly €19,000 after falling victim to a fake text message claiming she owed a traffic fine, police said on Monday.
The scam unfolded last Saturday, July 5, when the woman received a message on her phone saying she had an outstanding fine of €85 for using a mobile phone while driving. The message included a link to what appeared to be a government payment page.
Believing the message to be genuine, the woman clicked the link and entered her bank card details, account number, and even her username and password on the fake website. Moments later, she began receiving one-time passwords (OTP) via SMS, which she also entered, unknowingly giving scammers full access to her account.
Within minutes, four unauthorized transactions were made, draining €18,760 from her bank account.
Police: "We never ask for payments this way."
Police confirmed the complaint and are investigating the incident as part of a wider scam that has been circulating across Cyprus in recent months. They stressed that they never send text messages or online requests asking citizens to pay fines or provide personal banking details.
“This is a scam,” police said in a statement, urging the public to remain vigilant. “If you receive messages with links, do not click on them. Never enter sensitive information on unfamiliar websites.”
Authorities are now reminding the public, especially older residents who are more likely to be targeted, to be cautious with any unsolicited messages that ask for personal or banking information, even if they appear official.
What to do if you receive a suspicious message
- Don’t click on any links
- Don’t share personal or banking information
- Report suspicious messages to the police
- Contact your bank immediately if you suspect fraud
As these types of scams continue to evolve, police say public awareness is the first line of defense.
